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Brussels

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Brussels
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Brussels Travel Guide

  • About Brussels
As the capital of the country which invented praline, the French fry and the waffle, Brussels is the place to come if you want to eat well. The treacly scent of slowly braising sugar emanates from around just about every corner, while down at the docks, a row of inviting restaurants offers the classic moules-frites (mussels and fries) cooked in just about every way imaginable. Tempting though nearly everything is, there’s more to Brussels than chocolate and Tin Tin (although there is a museum dedicated to both). The compact city centre is a confection of cobbled streets and chocolatiers interspersed with bars selling that other Belgian speciality – delicious wheat beer. The residents are a cosmopolitan bunch who can switch from French to Flemish and then to English faster than you can say ‘frite’. Reserved at first, the locals are quick to warm up and have none of the icy disdain often displayed by their Parisian counterparts. They also love a good party – even better if it follows a slap-up meal – and as a result, the city’s many bars and clubs are a vibrant bunch and overflow with revellers come weekends. There’s no shortage of things to do during the day either, whether it’s getting up close and personal with the Manneken Pis (a tiny statuette of a urinating boy) or marvelling at the riotous colour of the works on display at the surrealist Magritte Museum. All of this makes Brussels’ staid reputation abroad something of anomaly and the blame can be placed squarely at the feet of a single institution – the European Parliament which is headquartered in the city. Housed in a strikingly ugly post-modern block, it bustles with bureaucrats drawn from all corners of the Continent and it’s not uncommon to see a motorcade sweep past as a premier from one country or another arrives. More interesting are the Royal and Sablon districts, which teem with art galleries. Meandering down one of the myriad side streets, discovering flea markets and boutique stores as you go is a pleasure that you won’t find in the Brussels guide books.
  • Brussels History
Brussels has many claims to fame but one of the least known is that it was founded by a saint. In AD695, Saint Gery built a chapel on the banks of the Senne River at a point now called Place Saint Gery. But the city of Brussels didn’t officially become a city until 979 when Charles, Duke of Low Lotharingia set down Brussels’ first city charter. Thanks to its riverside setting, it swiftly became a trading centre and almost as quickly, acquired two sets of city walls. Years later they would come to need them. But in the 12th century, all was peaceful, and Brussels became the capital city and ducal seat of the Duchy of Brabant. During this period, Brussels exported luxury items such as fabrics and tapestries to Paris and Venice to decorate the homes of royals and aristocrats. After temporarily falling out of favour in the 15th century, its fortunes were restored in 1519 when Charles V became Holy Roman Emperor. But with increasing importance came rising strife and in 1695, the bombardment of Brussels by King Louis XIV of France left the Grand Place in ruins and a third of the city’s buildings reduced to rubble. French troops took over once again between 1746 and 1748. The Brabant Revolt followed in 1788 before Brussels was overrun during the Napoleonic era. Brussels, which had been capital of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, finally got its independence along with the rest of Belgium in 1830. Under King Leopold I, Brussels was reshaped with the old walls destroyed and replaced with wide boulevards. With more space, the population exploded and by the turn of the century, the city was home to more than 200,000 inhabitants. But once again, Brussels was to be thrown into turmoil when the Germans invaded twice within 20 years. Nevertheless, the hard times were to change its fate forever and in the post-war world, Brussels has become central to a new project – the grand European dream.
  • Did you know? 
Brussels is home to Europe’s oldest shopping arcade, Galerie St Hubert, which dates back to 1847. The earliest buildings in Brussels date back to AD 679. Though the Mirror Room in the Royal Palace of Brussels was first installed under Leopold II of Belgium   (1865- 1909), the million or so jewel beetle carapaces that adorn the ceiling weren’t added until 2002.
  • Weather in Brussels
With warm summers, mild winters and a lively programme of annual events, Brussels is a joy to visit in any season.Spring (March to May) is the best time to visit Brussels, as the weather is warm and it is not yet peak tourist season.Summer (June to August) is peak tourist season. The city is lively and can feel overcrowded at times. Temperatures are pleasant, averaging 23°C (73°F).Autumn (September to November) is the perfect season to visit the museums in Brussels. Rainfall is moderate and temperatures usually hover around 15°C (59°F).Winter (December to February) is a festive season. Christmas markets and sparkling decorations make December a particularly magical time to visit. Temperatures can reach a high of 6°C (43°F).

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