14 Best Tourist Attractions Destination in Belgium - Belgium Travel Guide
The Kingdom of Belgium is rich in tourist
attractions, mainly because two European cultural groups once met and
overlapped here. The interesting countryside and many cultural attractions make
every time of the year a visit worthwhile.
In the resorts along the Belgian North Sea coast,
the summer vacationers will find extensive beaches and picturesque dunes. Those
interested in art will enjoy the beautiful museums and collections as well as
the historic centers of the city, many with rivers and other waterways and
impressive secular and religious buildings such as those in Ghent and Bruges.
Tourists interested in technical achievements will be fascinated by the port
facilities in Antwerp and the bridges, sluices, canals or boat lifting gear. Walkers
and nature enthusiasts will be attracted by the woodlands of the Ardennes,
where the largest dripstone cave in Europe and Spa, a spa town of high quality,
are to be found. Belgium is also famous for its gastronomic delights–no other
European country can boast as many restaurants awarded international gourmets
with stars or medals as Belgium can.
Belgium is also an important European bureaucratic
center, and is host to the European Union headquarters.
Belgium may be small, but the sights are packed.
UNESCO-recognized sites in the capital of Brussels range from the elegant Grand
Place guildhalls of the 14th century to the Art Nouveau townhouses of Victor
Horta at the beginning of the 20th century. Bruges is an important tourist
attraction, with its perfectly preserved medieval streets filled with tranquil
canals that attract travelers every year. But many other cities in the
country-Ghent and Mechelen in particular-also have excellent architectural
examples from the Middle Ages. This small nation was at the forefront of the
history of Europe, with many of the continent's most important events taking
place in its entire countryside. In Belgium, Napoleon met his match in the
battle of Waterloo, and during the First and Second World Wars, Belgium fell
into the front line. The battlefields of Ypres during the First World War are
now important pilgrimage sites, which are one of the most popular places in
Belgium. Whether you are here for ancient or modern history, Belgium offers an
enormous piece of European heritage in a piece of land in size.
01. Grand Place,
Brussels
La Grand Place is surrounded by beautiful guildhalls
and other buildings from the 14th to the 17th century. The adorned medieval
town hall, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, dominates one side. Grand
Place has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its exceptional
architectural and artistic style blend. The square is always busy with tourists
and locals, but especially in August, when the center is filled with the 75-by
24-meter flower carpet, made up of more than 700,000 cut begonias. Tip: from
the balcony of the town hall you'll get the best full view of the beautiful
designs.
02. The Canals and
Belfry of Bruges
Bruges started on the banks of the Reie River and as
it grew, a number of waterways connected it to the Zwin estuary and the North
Sea. Today the canals are beautiful reminiscences of the history of Bruges, and
cruising or walking along them is one of Belgium's most popular activities. A
walking tour map can be downloaded from the tourism website to explore the
inner canals, where you can enjoy beautiful views of picturesque bridges and
glimpse hidden gardens. Or navigate the canals by boat from any of the five
landings.
Belgium's most famous sights include the beautiful
belfry and Halle, which dominate Bruges ' main square. This impressive
building, dating from the medieval period, once served as the main town market
hall and was well preserved, giving visitors a real taste of the architectural
power of the Middle Ages. One of the favorite things to do in Belgium is to
climb the 366 winding and narrow steps of the belfry. Once at the top, the
views of the church spires and steeple towers offer one of the most famous
panoramas in the country.
03. The
Battlefields of Flanders
For many visitors, the role of Belgium on the front
line of the First World War, and in particular the Flanders battlefields around
Ypres, are the main reasons for a trip here. Not only historically important,
the battlefields are an important place of pilgrimage. The preserved trenches
run for kilometers around Ypres, whereas there are also large cemeteries for
the thousands of soldiers who died here. The Tyne Cot Cemetery (British) and
the German War Cemetery in Langemark are both solemn reminiscences of the
brutal struggle here during the Great War.
04. Ghent's
Gravensteen and Old Town
This enormously impressive fort was once the great
home of the counts of Flanders, who took their inspiration from the bulky
castles built in Syria by the Crusaders. Gravensteen is one of the best
surviving examples of a moated fortress in Europe today and is extremely well
preserved. Its strong and impressively thick and high walls rise from the
waters of the river Lieve, right in the middle of the old town of Ghent, above
the surrounding streets ' rooftops. Inside the vast arched halls and chambers
are exhibits of medieval life, but the real star of the show is the castle's
architecture itself. Climb up the staircase to the roof for panoramic views
across town before strolling through Ghent's charming stone-paved streets.
05. Horta Museum
and Town Houses
Victor Horta was the most influential architect and
designer of the Art Nouveau style of the early 20th century. Many of his
amazing buildings have survived in Brussels and are now a UNESCO World Heritage
Site. Begin with the original stained glass, mosaics, woodwork and decorations
at the Horta Museum, located in his former home and studio, which were
preserved as he designed them. Horta was a pioneer in this artistic revolution,
which maximized and disseminated natural light and incorporated nature's themes
in its curves. The esthetic of Horta included attention to every detail of
construction and decoration, from the design of the house to its furniture and
even the decoration on hinges and doorbuttons. The two interconnected buildings
of his house and studio show Art Nouveau at its height and the four main town
halls-Hôtel Tassel, Hôtel Solvay, Hôtel van Eetvelde and Maison & Atelier
Horta-are also part of the UNESCO site.
06. Cathedral of
Saint Bavo, Ghent
This majestic cathedral, with its high Gothic chorus
and Romanesque crypt, exhibits the best religious architecture in Belgium and
is the most important tourist attraction in Ghent. Although the elevating
building with its harmonious glass windows is a highlight in itself, most
people come here to see the famous work of art that graces the interior, in
particular the Flemish masterpiece known as the Altar of Ghent. Do not miss the
mammoth crypt under the cathedral, which contains important tombs and some
beautiful wall paintings, once you have seen the painting.
07. Basilica of the
Holy Blood, Bruges
If you visit one church in Bruges only, make it one.
The Basilica of the Holy Blood is impressive not only because of its mixture of
Romanesque and late Gothic architecture, but also because of the sacred relic.
The upper chapel houses the famous vial for which the church is named; it is
said to contain a drop of the blood of Jesus Christ brought back to Belgium
after the Second Crusade. The church's interior is a dazzling riot of gilded
work completed in the 16th century and provides ample reason for a visit even
if you are not interested in holy relics.
08. Grand Place
(Grote Markt), Antwerp
Right in the heart of Antwerp is the magnificent
Grand Place (also known as the Grote Markt), which contains some of Belgium's
finest examples of the architecture of guild houses with their typical steeple
shape. The Town Hall is a well-preserved example of the construction of the
16th century and the interior is worth seeing for its collection of paintings
that show the history of Antwerp. The guild houses which still border the
square are the main reason for visiting the Grote Markt. The Coopers ' House
and the Grocers ' House are among the best façades, but they are all well
preserved examples of this Belgian style of architecture.
09. Meuse Valley
The Meuse Valley in the south of the country is one
of the best places to feel the lush countryside of Belgium. This is the perfect
opportunity to take a river trip watching the beautiful scenery unfurl; dense
forests are interspersed with lovely towns surrounded by calcareous cliffs. The
towns of Namur and Dinant in particular serve as a gateway to this region,
which has a variety of hiking and cycling trails for travelers who want to add
some activities to their vacation. Craggy cliff-top citadels and other
historical sites add to the attraction, but the scenery itself is the real
highlight in this area.
10. Mons Old Town
Mons 's old town is a pleasure to explore. In the
center is the Grand Place, a main square decorated with a variety of typically
ornate buildings dating from the 15th to the 18th centuries, which still have a
sense of symmetry over a period of 400 years. Toison d'Or House (1615) and the
St. Chapel in particular. George (1604) are highlights of the architecture. The
old town hides a lot more sightseeing opportunities away from the Grand Place.
Two of the most important attractions are the UNESCO-listed clock tower on the
hill above the city and the Church of Sainte-Waudru with its interior filled
with artistic and religious relics.
11. St. Peter's
Church, Leuven
St. The Church of Peter is situated in the center of
Leuven, on the city's main square or Grote Markt. This is one of the
best-preserved examples of Brabant Gothic style in Belgium for fans of
architecture and history, with its pointed arch windows and sheaf pillars.
Art-lovers will find an extra treat inside. The choir and the ambulatory are
home to a religious art museum, where some of the finest Flemish paintings
depicting biblical scenes are exhibited. The baroque sculpted pulpit and the
painting by Dirk Bouts of the Last Supper are worth a visit.
12. Mechelen Old
Town
Its monuments may not be as famous as those in
Bruges, but the old town of Mechelen is a great place to capture a sense of
medieval Belgium with a lot of gabled architecture and fine old buildings. The
central Grote Markt is bordered by some exceptionally fine buildings, including
the Town Hall and Lakenhall, while the impressive cathedral of Sint-Rombouts
with its high clock tower rises just behind it. A walk through the center away
from the main square also reveals a lot of the typical architecture of the
guildhouse that history fans are sure to see.
13. Waterloo
Yes, fans of history, it's Waterloo; the place where
Napoleon was defeated during the famous fight. Today, the countryside where the
battle once roared is a bucolic landscape of agricultural fields, but an
artificial hill with a memorial lion sculpture rises from the surrounding
flatlands to commemorate the day when the army of Napoleon was finally stopped.
From the top, the countryside offers excellent views. Waterloo remains an
important stop on the itinerary for anyone interested in the history of Belgium
and of Europe as a whole.
14. Semois Valley
The lush Semois Valley is the perfect antidote to
historic wanderings in the towns and cities of Belgium. In the southeastern
part of the country, the Semois River crosses thick forest hills and is a prime
walking area. For those who prefer to see this landscape in a less taxing way,
a boat trip through the area is an excellent alternative. The Semois Valley
offers a slice of Belgium's most viscerally beautiful scenery and is a pleasure
for nature lovers, especially in spring when the wild flowers bloom.
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