Brussels in Review
Strategically located in the heart of the European continent the Belgian capital of Brussels is the political and diplomatic capital of Europe. Home to the European Union, the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Forces of Europe and the Headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Brussels is a major player on the international scene.
Although its history covers over a thousand years, Brussels is a contemporary, cosmopolitan and cultured city. The Grand Place (Grote Markt), one of the finest squares in Europe, is a good place to start your city tour. Main attractions include the Royal Palace, the House of Parliaments, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts and the Atomium, built for the very first World Fair in 1958 to represent the atoms in a molecule. Most of the buildings in the city centre are an interesting mixture of gothic, classical and art deco architecture but Brussels’ big architectural heritage belongs to art nouveau. This eccentric design style can be admired in the house of Victor Horta, the Musical Instruments Museum and the Comic Strip Museum.
A powerhouse and a Mecca for chocoholics, Brussels is home to an abundance of world-class restaurants, mouth watering chocolate shops, traditional frites stands where you can enjoy authentic chips with mayonnaise, North African eateries, shellfish restaurants and beers and bars to every taste.
Sights, tastes and sounds will undoubtedly entice many visitors to spend more than one day in this interesting destination.
- From our editor T.Ireland – Australia