Brussels - Sights & Tastes of Belgium

A look at the history, architecture, and food that makes Brussels a great location to center yourself for countless adventures in Europe   . . . 

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Brussels is located in the Flanders region of Belgium, which is typically Flemish speaking, but French is the most commonly spoken language in the city. You will notice the area to be somewhat of a cultural melting-pot with influences from all reaches of the globe, so don't expect to find your experience to be limited to just Belgian traditions. 

Royal Palace of Brussels

Not only is Brussels the capital of Belgium, but it is also the seat of the European Union and a major transportation hub. While staying in Brussels, you can easily take the trains for day trips all over the region, but in this article, we are going to focus on the inner ring of the old city that has so much to offer. 

The entire town is packed with interesting historic structures that display architecture spanning multiple ages. Those that follow my adventures know that I am extremely interested in historic locations, so the city's south gate Port de Hal really caught my attention. 

Port de Hal

Also referred to as Halle Gate, this Medieval structure was built in the 14th century. In those days it acted as a passage through the city walls and also incorporated a moat for extra fortification.  Today if functions as a museum and makes for an amazing photo opportunity. 

Sacred Architecture

The Church of Our Lady of Victories is a pretty impressive sight with its exterior modeled in the late Brabantine Gothic style, while the much smaller nearby Mary Magdalene Chapel. makes for some beautiful photo opportunities. A shot walk will have you arriving at the Basilique Notre-Dame de Bon Secours. This building began as a 12th century chapel before being renovated and elevated to its current status. 

If you're looking for something a little older, Brussels has plenty of that too. The Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula was constructed in the 11th century in a Romanesque style of architecture with on-going efforts over the course of 500 years that provided an eventual Gothic touch to its form. While this may seem impressive the Saint Nicholas Church is actually older and can be found in the heart of town near the Brussels stock exchange. 

These are only a few, as the city of Brussels is absolutely packed with religious structures representing multiple styles of architecture.

The Town Center

Speaking of the heart of things, on place you will definitely want to visit is The Grand Place. This lively square displays some of the most ornate architecture around and was once home to the many guilds that operated in the area. Among the glistening gold decorated buildings, you will also find the town hall and the city museum. 

The Grand Place

Just around the corner you may find an interesting monument to Everard 'T Serclaes. In 1536 this brave local hero led the revolt against an invading force of Flemings that had seized the town. He was ambushed and killed shortly after but is now immortalized in this statue. It is claimed that touching the arm will ensure one's return to Brussels.

Everard 'T Serclaes

​If you are up for a look at the whimsical side of town, Brussels does have a sense of humor too. During my stay, I found myself on a scavenger hunt for a trio of urinating statues that have become infamously associated with the area. The most iconic of these is Manneken Pis. Hidden a few blocks away is the lesser known Jeanneke Pis, and if you stroll a bit further west you may even find the dog known as Zinneke Pis. 

Collection of Urinating Statues

​And you may not realize this, but Belgium is the birthplace of many famous comics and cartoons including The Adventures of Tintin, Lucky Luke, and of course everyone knows the Smurfs. All over town you will see tributes to these local characters and many more in the form of elaborate murals that really brighten the place up. 

Famous Belgian Characters

A Taste of Belgium

But what adventure would be complete without sampling the culinary tastes of such an interesting place? Croquettes are a very common menu item here, and you will immediately notice fries are served with almost anything. One of my favorite dishes was the mussels, but there was no way I could go without trying the world-renowned Belgian waffle.

​Warning! - The food is pretty amazing here ... as is the brew!

Tasty Treats of Brussels

​If you would like a moving tour of this adventure,
​you can follow along with the YouTube video below.

​If you want to dig even further into the town's history read more here.

And feel free to leave a comment to let me know what you think.