Dec
30
Written by:
TravelingProfessor
Friday, December 30, 2011
Brussels Day Trip
One my favorite day trips is to take the easy 1 ½ hour train ride up to Brussels (known as Bruxelles in French). Trains run frequently from Gare du Nord into Brussels Midi station. The round trip fare is less than $100 if you book in advance.
Brussels is a terrific walking city. It’s funky, it’s gothic, and the mussels and beer just cannot be beat. Have a Belgian waffle and bring some chocolate home with you. In many ways it is much different than Paris. English is widely spoken. For Brussels tourist info, including a map, try this link: http://www.visitbelgium.com
Here are my recommendations for things to see and do in Brussels:
Grand Place (aka Grote Markt): I love to promenade around the grandest of all squares in Europe. It is surrounded by guild houses, the Hôtel de Ville, and the Musée de la Ville. Each time I visit I discover something new.
Mannekin Pis: This is an irreverent statue of a young boy doing his business. It is certainly not in the class of the Eiffel Tower, but it might be Brussels most famous landmark. Have a chuckle, take a snapshot, and move on.
Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts (Royal Museums of Fine Arts): This is a fine collection of mostly Belgian art, both historical and contemporary. There are works by such well-known artists as Rubens, Van Dyck, and Rembrandt. Website: http://www.fine-arts-museum.be/site/EN
Chocolate: While strolling the streets off the Grand Place notice the chocolate boutiques sprinkled about. Don’t hesitate to sample the goods but don’t overdo it, save some room for a Belgian waffle and mussels and beer later. You can always bring some chocolate back to Paris.
Mussels and Beer: Beer is a high art form in Belgium. It is only enhanced when it is paired with mussels (moules) and twice-fried fries (frites). My little slice of heaven for this delight is La Villette. Website: http://www.la-villette.be
3 comment(s) so far...
Any thoughts on some time in Bruges?
By Jacqueline Wilkins on
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
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The Traveling Professor - Small Group Tours to Italy. Small Group Tours to Paris - Brussels for a Day or Two from Paris
# Lotovanje 2012 Grcka
By TrackBack on
Friday, January 13, 2012
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Bruges is an incredibly romantic town. It has been untouched by war and is perfectly preserved. The food is great, wonderful architiecture, and the canals that run through it are charming. They all speak English too!
By Traveling Professor on
Friday, February 03, 2012
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