Belgium
Belgium Overview
It happens time after time. People understand Europe the way theyve been introduced to it – The usual tourist meccas, the attractions on a thousand postcards. Then they remember Belgium, the little country, they passed through a few days ago. It seems beautiful, its practically next door to Paris, London and Amsterdam, and they have 24 hours to explore it before heading home. Two hours later, they are in love with Belgium.
Baroque architecture and a street named Meat & Bread; an exhibit of comic strips; and jazz until dawn you could only be in Brussels. Dont miss the GrandPlace and its Gothic Town Hall; it is one of the most beautiful squares in the world. All our museums are uniquely rewarding but with 70 of them, you might want to limit your enjoyment to a special few.
You get off the train in Antwerp thinking diamonds, and the first thing you see is an elephant. One of the worlds most popular zoos is right next to the station. Bruges is only an hour from Brussels; climb the 366 steps to the top of the Belfry for a spectacular view of a perfect medieval fairyland. If the soaring spires of Ghent dont take your breath away, whats inside the Castle of the Counts will-a torture chamber dating from the 12th century.
Translate la Cit Ardente and youll know what makes Lige irresistible. The people of this fascinating hot-blooded city in the Ardennes region are known for their passionate love of life and carefree way of living; see the 11th-century Palace of the Prince-Bishops. Namur, a city under siege for 2,000 years, now peacefully awaits your visit. In Dinant, climb the 408-step stairway of the massive Citadel, now a museum of arms and history. If you want to see a really old house, Tournai has two built in 1175; the oldest private homes still standing in Europe.
Belgium is the ideal destination for business and for pleasure. Unbeknown to many, the old saying, Good things come in small packages began as a description of Belgium. For we are a country that has it all from fabulous medieval cities, rich museums, elegant shopping, and lively local markets to festivals and folklore, opera and jazz.
