History Brussels
Brussels City
Brussels History
Brussels (Bruxelles in French) is one of the Europes most interesting capitals and a fabulous place to spend a long weekend.
The city centre, which has retained its medieval charm, features narrow streets opening out dramatically into a square known as the Grande Place.
Off of this central square are some of the best restaurants in Europe - street after street of them and most serving up the Brussels speciality - Moules Marnier - mussels cooked in various forms.
Belgium is also famous for its beer and there are several bars around the Grande Place selling every variety imaginable. Trapist monks must have been having a high time seven centuries ago!
As a centre of the European Commission along with Strasbourg and Luxembourg, many expatriates live in Brussels. The streets around Schuman Square are where you will find many of them.
While there you have to try the Belgian waffles, a penchant for every Belgian first thing in the morning on the way to work. You will find stalls in almost every tramway and tube station throughout the city.
Architectural treasures include Léopold II's Cinquantenaire Palace and Art Nouveau buildings by Brussels' architect, Victor Horta. The medieval and Art Nouveau architecture of Brussels is unparalled and is visible on almost every street.
If you're interested in parks, seek out the Forêt de Soignes, which stretches from the Bois de la Cambre to Waterloo.
Quality shopping can be found on Avenue Louise where you will find all the leading brands and some interesting unique boutiques. For gifts to bring home, you will never go wrong with Belgian chocolate.
Brussels is a multi-cultural city, which has embraced Europe wholeheartedly to the point where many Belgians speak several European languages, so getting yourself understood is easy.
That said, the Bruxellois maintain their own quirky character and surreal take on life - this is where René Magritte pioneered surrealism and Tintin was created by Hergé.
Hence the Mannequin Pis - the statue of the small boy having a pee and an emblem of Brussels - pictured right. This statue fits comfortably with the Belgian sense of humour.
(By the way, the Mannequin Pis is off the Grande Place and if you're not careful, you'll miss it, he's only two feet tall).
The climate is temperate with cold winters (3°C) and warm summers (17.5°C).
