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Antwerp Travel Guide
Antwerp is one of the Belgium cities where you can fancy yourself the King of Belgium over a glass of Koninck beer (or one of the other 400 brands) with a view on the old guildhouses on the Grote Markt. Belgium’s second city, and the biggest one of Flanders, is also a receptacle of monuments, museums and churches. Besides this, the city of Rubens, is the worlds centre for diamond processing as well as Belgiums primary seaport.
The heart of the city on the Scheldt beats at the ‘Grote Markt’, an irregularly-shaped square, surrounded by decorative guild housedating from the 16th and 17th century. This square is home to the statue of Brabo. According to a 16th century legend, his action of ‘handwerpen’ (Dutch for ‘flinging your hand’) led to the city’s name. Silvius Brabo is said to have flung the hand of Antigonus, a giant who terrorized passing ships. The 15th century City Hall on the square shows a successful blend of the Flemish style and Italian Renaissance characteristics. Southeast of the square, you can see the ‘Onze Lieve Vrouwe Cathedral’, a beautiful Gothic cathedral which will throw the rest of the square in the shade.
Antwerp’s most famous resident is undoubtedly Pieter Paul Rubens. The painter’s, and diplomat’s, spirit is present all throughout town. His statue is at the ‘Groenplaats’ and he was buried at the St Paulus kerk. Many churches are enriched with his paintings. The Rubenshuis, the place where the painter lived and worked, still exudes the grandeur of the height of the Baroque in Antwerp. In the decorative restored Rockoxhuis, Rubens has a substantial presence, together with Jordaens, Matsys and his pupil Van Dyck.
The city of Rubens is a paradise for museum lovers. The Fine Arts Museum in the south houses over a thousand works by classical painters, including the Flemish Primitives. In addition, you can enjoy over 1500 more recent works. Naturally, this is where you will find the world’s most beautiful and largest collection of the work of Antwerpen’s great master Rubens. The Museum of Contemporary Art (MUHKA) has a collection of mainly Belgian art from the nineteen-seventies. These are only a few of the museums you will come across on your walk from the central station to the Grote Markt Mayer van den Bergh Museum is dedicated to fine and applied arts, particularly from the 14th to the 16th century. If you are at the Berchem station, make sure you see the Zurenborg district, known for its unique architectural complexities. Nowhere else in Europe than here will you find such a decorative collection of Art Nouveau and Jugendstil houses.
The city of diamonds has its main museum in the heart of the diamond district, the streets behind the central station. This part of the city is known as the ‘Jerusalem of the North’, because it has the largest settlement of Orthodox Jews in this part of Europe. Over 70% of the world’s cutting and trading in diamonds takes place in Antwerp.
One of the resasons why Antwerp can maintain its world centre position is because of the port’s international trade links. A river cruise is definately not to be missed, not only to admire the famous skyline with its antique towers from the water, but also to experience the busy world port from the inside. Those who don’t like boats can still enjoy the Scheldt from the unique promenade near the ‘Steen’. The Steen is the oldest building within Antwerp and houses the National Maritime Museum with its open-air department exhibiting real ships.
So when your eyes are tired and your feet are raw because of all the miles you have walked, sit down again at the Grote Markt and soak in the atmosphere. Prepare yourself for a night out in the sparkling city with its many names and its slight inferiority complex (Brussels and Bruges still get all the attention). May the beers soothe your tiredness and soften your own dialect.
Arlon Travel Guide
Arlon is the southernmost city of Belgium, situated close to the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg. With a population of only 24.000 inhabitants and has succeeded in preserving its quiet charm. In the historic centre you find many old houses in either the typical Luxemburgian style or the more Belgian-oriented neo-styles of the end of the 19th century.
The name Arlon comes from the Latin ‘Orolanum’, which indicates that the city was founded by the Romans. After the decline of the Roman Empire, Arlon was taken by Germanic tribes (the Francs). During the Middle-Ages the city was part of the County of Luxembourg. The Musse Lyxembourgois has a good collection of archelogical finds from the regio. The Gallo-roman department of this museum boasts a prominent collection with over 450 statues from tombstones or from the Roman ‘Thermae’ (baths). Nearly 600 sculptured panels give more information about life in Roman times.
Also worth a visit is the Archeological park (situated Rue des Thermes Romaines).
In the center of the park are the foundations of the oldest church in Belgium: a basilica from the 5th century. Around it is a cemetery where christianized Merovingians were buried as from the beginning of the 6th century. Many of the ancient tombstones are still present. Furthermore, one can see at the back of the park the remainders of Roman Thermae and bathhouses.
Bouillon Travel Guide
Bouillon is located in the Belgian Ardennes. The main claim to fame of the town is that is was here that in the 1 1th century, Duke Godefried of Bouillon started the Crusades that would end in the fall of Jerusalem. The castle still stands proud, draw bridges and all. The town is very pretty and the surroundings are extremely beautiful and excellent for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking or canoeing.
Bruges Travel Guide
Bruges is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It rightly deserves the name Venice of the north, canals, bridges and old city houses make it a very romantic place to visit.
Bruges came to prominence in the 14-th century. However the city lost its important position as a trading center of the Netherlands, which included half of the current Belgium, soon to Antwerp and later to New amsterdam. The good thing about this is that here you can find a city that has remained practically unchanged since its heyday at the end of the Middle Ages. The city has many sights to see, but it is also very pleasant to just wander along the canals, sit down in a small pub to taste a few special Belgian brews and then walk on, a little less steadily maybe, but with a smile on your face!
Brussels Travel Guide
Beer, waffles and festivals – if this is what youre looking for you will find them in abundance when you visit the countrys capital city (pop. 1 000 000). Brussels is the major gateway for the country: it is on the main routes heading inland from the Channel ports via the Flemish art towns and it is as well a convenient stopover on the train between France .and the Netherlands.
Brussels took its name from Broekzele, or city of the marsh, which grew up in the sixth century on the trade route between Cologne and Bruges / Gent. Under the Habsburghs the town flourished, eventually becoming capital of the Spanish Netherlands. In the 19th century it became the capital of the newly-independent Belgium. Although nowadays, the city is often primarily regarded as a destination for businesspeople or diplomats it is the headquarters for the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) there is plenty to see and do for other travellers. Manneke Pis, plenty of impressive museums, delicious chocolate and a city centre divided into the upper and the lower town with a beautiful cathedral and the Oude Markt where you can enjoy your Belgian beers. Brussels requires a minimum of two nights to get a feeling for the city but an even longer stay should be planned if there is a festival in town. While Brussels is a safe city some areas are prone to crime, especially at night. Be careful when walking near the westward arc between North and Midi railway stations and Rogier and De Brouckere Metro stations.
Note: Brussels is an international city; for the two great parts of Belgians (French and Flemish-speaking) there is parity in Brussels. This means that every instance of the written word, from road signs to the yellow pages, has to appear in both languages.
Charleroi Travel Guide
Charleroi is the third biggest city of Belgium, situated in Wallonia, the French-speaking part of Belgium. Charleroi is not like any other Belgian city – no Grand Places, and its very hilly, lots of slopes in the town. The atmosphere feels different too, slightly scarier, more oppressive, but not altogether unfriendly. In Harry Pearsons book A Tall Man In A Low Land, he visits Charleroi and comments that it was “like a scene from a Martin Scorses film – alas, not the Age Of Innocence”. It’s a special place. As the gateway of the Ardennes it of course has a lot more to offer besides this huge event. It has a lot of beautiful sights, shopping-streets, parks, many cultural activities and museums. Shopping is pretty good, there’s Ville2, a shopping centre next to the stadium in the North town (Metro – Samaritains) which has a big cinema complex next to it, Carollywood, as well as restaurants and a big car park.
There are lots of clothes shops on the steep Rue de la Montaigne, which leads up to the Place Charles II, where you’ll find the Cathedral and the Town Hall, plus huge spouting fountains that come up from the ground. Nearby in Chatelineau there is a shopping centre called Caro, and in nearby Gilly there are also lots of shops (Gilly is at the end of the Mtro), and a good theatre, Le Temps Choisis.
Charleroi is also the cradle of the Belgian comic strip in the ” Marcinelle School” style as illustrated by ” Dupuis Publishers “. Amongst others you will meet Spirou and Fantasio, the Marsupilami, Lucky Luke, Boule et Bill, the Dal tons … in the centre of the city or when you use the underground. In Parc Astrid is a remarkable Lucky Luke statue.
Diksmuide Travel Guide
Situated 20 km behind the Belgian coastline, Diksmuide forms a peacefull oasis in the polder landscape. During Worldwar I (1914-1918) and II (1940-1945) it was a battlefield for the Allies and the Germans, where many soldiers on both sides lost their lifes for peace. To visit: Trench of Death and The Peace Domain with the Ysertower.
Dinant Travel Guide
Dinant is a very cute town in the Belgian Ardennes. It has an impressive citadel and is a great base for explroring the region which is an outdoor paradise. South of Dinant, begins the romantical part of the Meuse, a deep trench in the Ardennes plateau. The most spectacular section beeing located at Freyr (6km from Dinant) with on the right bank spectacular rocks, and on the left bank a mini Versailles with its Renaissance castle surrounded by classical gardens. Two breathtaking free outlooks are located on the road between Dinant and Beauraing.
Boat trips on the meuse river can be arranged here and many day trips can be made to charming town in the Ardennes.
Durbuy Travel Guide
Durbuy is the smallest city of Belgium. It is a very cute place, with lots of old houses, cobbelstone streets and a great setting on the banks of the Ourthe. As you enter the city, once youve crossed the old bridge on the Ourthe, you face the old castle of the Graves from Ursel which was built in the 1 1th century and rebuilt by this family in the 17th century on the ruins of the ancient feudal fortification. You then notice the Saint-Nicolas church from the 17th and the 18th centuries (baptismal funds) and the ancient convent from the Recollects.
The Corn Hall, an old half-timbered house, stands conspicuously between the homogenous and picturesque group of houses. This house was already mentioned in 1380 and was especially used as seat for judicial and administrative activities. This house dates from the 16th century, it was transformed in the 18th century and it is now in restoration. The region is excellent for kayaking, rock climbing and hiking. Many of these activities can be arranged either here or in Barvaux just 5 km up the road, which is the adminstrative centre of Durbuy.
Gembloux Travel Guide
Located in the province of Namur, Gembloux is a cut town with lots of old building. Sights include the Belfry, the Benedictine Abbey and the Church. There is an agricultural university in town so expect lots of young people and a lively atmosphere at night.
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