- Capital excursions in Belgium
- Bridges to the world of history
- Travel to the capital of East Flanders
In rare cases, excursions in Belgium are an end in themselves, most often this country acts as one of the important stops on a trip to several major tourist powers. Tourist routes can cover the Benelux states, that is Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, or become a "link" in the chain "Poland - Belgium - Germany - France". Such tours are popular with travelers from Russia and neighboring countries.
But this country itself is very interesting, because many monuments of the Middle Ages have survived on its territory - castles, parks, monastic complexes. Many people prefer tours that introduce them to architectural landmarks, cultural values, and the country's business cards, such as delicious chocolate or high-quality cut diamonds and mid-range prices.
Capital excursions in Belgium
It is clear that of all the cities in the country, Brussels is the most popular among travelers - an ancient city that was honored to become the capital of the European Union. Today, ancient buildings here peacefully coexist with modern works of architects; a city tour lasts from 2 to 4 hours or more, the cost is from 100 € per group.
The first acquaintance with Brussels implies a meeting with the world famous symbols of the Belgian capital, among which the following historical and cultural sites stand out:
- the sculpture "Manneken Pis", he already has a company in the city - "Manneken Pis";
- Royal Palace, striking with splendor of decor and decoration;
- Cathedral, consecrated in honor of Saints Michael and Gudula, dating back to 1226;
- Atomium is a model of a fragment of the crystal lattice of iron, 102 meters high.
The walk usually begins in the center of the city, where the Grand Place (Grote Markt) square is located, which the locals call the “heart of the capital”. It looks especially good during the flower festival, which is held every spring. Skillful Belgians build a grandiose carpet of flowers right on the square.
Around the square are medieval buildings that once belonged to different guilds. The buildings have retained their funny names, like "Fox", "Oak" or "She-wolf". Some of them belong to the masterpieces of urban planning, others, on the contrary, are completely primitive, but their historical value does not diminish from this.
The main building of the square is considered to be the Town Hall, which is a striking example of Gothic architecture. The building was built over a number of years, in three stages, which can be seen with the naked eye. A 90-meter-high watch tower crowned with a statue of the patron saint of Brussels, the Archangel Michael, attracts attention. The Town Hall can be viewed not only from the outside, but also inside; some of the premises are open for access to guests and local residents. You can admire the exquisite interiors and a collection of handmade carpets dating from the 16th - 18th centuries. Important artifacts are kept in the Historical Museum, located on the opposite side of the square.
Bridges to the world of history
The second place in popularity among tourists is firmly held by the city of Bruges, which received a beautiful definition from the guests - "Venice of the North" and the unspoken title of "the most picturesque city in Europe". Its peculiarity is the presence of three important canals meeting in the center, which is why there are so many embankments and bridges in it.
Quite often, sightseeing tours of Bruges are offered to guests, during which tourists walk around the historical center, admire the picturesque old houses and no less picturesque bridges. In addition, many bridges have funny names, for example, Donkey or Lion, the secrets of their names will be revealed by the guide during the trip.
Travel to the capital of East Flanders
The beautiful city of Ghent is a worthy competitor to the capital, Bruges, and Antwerp, which has the largest number of historical monuments in Belgium, and is also the center of the East Flanders region. A walking tour of this small place will last at least 3 hours, it will take 150 €, but in return it will give you a lot of vivid emotions and impressions.
The city is attractive, first of all, for history lovers and fans of ancient architecture. Its main tourist attractions are palaces and places of worship. The main attractions include the palace complexes that belonged to the Counts of Flanders, the churches of St. Nicholas, St. Bavo, Our Lady and St. Peter.
Next to the castle of the Counts of Flanders, Patershol is located - the famous historical district of Ghent, which has kept its layout since the Middle Ages. Over the centuries, it flourished and then fell into decay, today in this prestigious area there are residential buildings, many restaurants, cafes and bars.
