Saturday 25 June 2011

Places to Visit in Belgium

If you are considering a visit to a traditionally-influenced place in Europe, you can give Belgium a try. This is a beautiful country in the Western Europe which is rich in culture and food. If you are thinking about visiting Belgium, you can expect to get a glance of typical European culture and architecture. Exotic food and museums are the chief attractions in the Kingdom of Belgium. Food enthusiasts can enjoy a variety of beers and chocolates. Now let us take a look at some interesting places to visit in Belgium.

Famous Places to Visit in Belgium

Brussels
If you want to see the modern life of Belgium, Brussels is the place to be. The top attraction in this city is the Grand Place, surrounded by the Town Hall and is considered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Another attraction in the city includes the Parc du Cinquantenaire; a large park spread across 30 hectares comprising beautiful gardens, waterfalls, and ponds. It even has the famous Cinquantenaire Art Museum, AutoWorld Museum, and the Royal Military Museum. And not to forget the famous Manneken Pis, Belgium's famous little statue. It’s a statue of little boy peeing in a fountain, located on the corner of Rue de L’Etuve & Stroofstraat since 1619.

Bruges
Bruges is the place to travel to if you are looking for a blend of early and contemporary life in Europe. The Groeningemuseum is a major point of interest that is a museum of fine arts holding artworks from the 14th century onwards. Another attraction is the Choco-Story Museum that gives you a glimpse about the making of chocolates. Similarly, The Frietmuseum shows the role and history of potato and chips. Don't miss the Snow and Ice sculpture festival which displays exquisite ice sculptures.

Leuven
A city just about 20 km east of the vibrant Brussels is Leuven. This is a city famous for the Hortus Botanicus Lovaniensis, a botanical garden known for possessing rare flowers and plants, ponds, greenhouses, etc. The city is mainly known for its student life, pubs, bars and busy markets. Other attractions include the Leuven Town Hall, Grand Béguinage of Leuven, and many historical churches like St. Peter's Church and Church of Saint Michael.

Antwerp
This city boasts of one of the largest seaports in the European region. It is a metropolitan city with much to offer for visitors. Animal lovers would really enjoy the Antwerp Zoo which has around 6,000 animals. The Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp is for art enthusiasts, displaying a wide range of works by world-renowned artists. Other places for tourists are the Steen Castle, Antwerp Port, and many diamond shops, as this city is believed to be the world's diamond capital.

Ghent
This is referred to as the flower city of the country. It holds the The Gentse Floraliën flower festival which is a once in five year event, displaying a variety of flowers and plants. You can truly enjoy the boat rides on the Leie river. Ghent is like a paradise to music lovers as well; with sporting festivals such as the Gentse Feesten, I Love Techno, and Festival of Flanders. Food enthusiasts can also have a good time in the multi-cuisine eateries of this Belgium city.

Hasselt
Tourists to Hasselt mark this place as a traditional European city. Though it is a small city, it is considered quite social. As being thought of as the 'city of the taste', there are many restaurants available around. Fashionable shoppers can have a good time owing to the designer brand shops in most of the streets. You can even enjoy the Plopsa Indoor amusement park. Other places to visit are the open air museum in Bokrijk, Municipal Fashion Museum, and National Genever Museum.

Usually, people coming to Belgium are tourists who have come to visit Germany, Luxembourg, and France. They are surprised by the cultural heritage the country possesses. An interesting fact on Belgium is that the country is one of the finest manufacturers of chocolate and beer the world over. These are few of the best cities to visit in Belgium. There are many other ideal places for spending leisure time in traditional, yet modern surroundings.

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