Situated at the junction of Flanders (the Flemish/Dutch-speaking north) and Wallonia (the French-speaking south), Brussels embodies Belgium’s diverse cultures. It is an attractive, vibrant capital with magnificent buildings, delightful beer cafes and impressive parks and monuments. Brussels’ cosmopolitan atmosphere is further enhanced by the city’s role as the headquarters of the European Union.

See

• Grand Place – A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Grand Place is a medieval square surrounded by guild houses. Other buildings here include the Bread House and the Gothic town hall.
• Royal Palace – Opposite Brussels Park in the centre of the city, the splendid Royal Palace is the official residence of the King of the Belgians. The Royal family now live in Laekan Castle, on the outskirts of Brussels, so the public are often allowed inside this imposing building.
• Cinquantenaire Park – This 30-hectare park boasts picturesque gardens, ponds and waterfalls. The elegant triumphal arch at its centre commemorates the 50th anniversary of Belgian independence in 1880.
• The Manneken Pis – A source of great amusement for centuries, the Manneken Pis (literally ‘Little Man Pee’) is a bronze statue depicting a small boy urinating into a fountain. Designed in 1618, it is now regarded as a symbol of the city.

 
Experience

• Belgian Chocolate – Chocoholics will be in heaven in the cobbled streets around the Grand Place, where scores of shops and museums let you sample the finest chocolate Belgium has to offer. You can even take a class to learn how to make it at home.
• Belgian Comic Strip Centre – Belgium has produced some of the world’s most treasured comic book characters, such as Tintin, Lucky Luke and the Smurfs. This fascinating museum in a former department store chronicles the history of the art form in Belgium.

Secrets Of The City

• The Flower Carpet – Every second August, some 750,000 begonias are arranged in the Grand Place to create an immense multi-coloured floral carpet.