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Brussels Hotels
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Brussels is
an exciting, modern city, yet it is rich in strikingly
beautiful medieval and art nouveau buildings. It has
outstanding museums and galleries and a vibrant cultural
life. The heart of the capital city of Belgium lies
inside a circle of main roads. The inner city can easily
be explored within this circle on foot, by bus, or by
tram. For areas outside it, there is an excellent subway
system.
Over the centuries, Brussels (Bruxelles in French,
Brussel in Flemish) has been ruled by every major power
at or near its boundaries from the Romans to the Spanish
to the Germans. Its colonial history provided a fitting
prelude to its current status. Brussels has become an
international business community composed of diplomats,
lobbyists, and euro-politicians connected with NATO and
the European Union. International business arrived in
the past three decades, resulting in blocks lined with
steel-and-glass office buildings. However, these modern
edifices are only a few steps from the cobbled streets,
splendid cafés, and graceful art nouveau architecture
that speak to the city's eventful past.
Belgium's unique languages date back to the time when
the Franks were forcing Celts and Gauls into the land's
southern regions, making an early form of the Dutch
language the norm in the north. French (with Dutch
influence), is the accepted language in the south.
Brussels, located in the middle, is one of the world's
few officially bilingual capitals. Residents of Brussels
tend to be politically and religiously conservative and
to cling to family and national traditions. The vast
majority of Belgians are Roman Catholics, and despite a
decline in church attendance, religious customs still
flavor much of Belgium's daily life.
Early Belgian artists are credited with inventing oil
painting, and the country has produced many
masterpieces. The Flemish primitive Jan Van Eyck started
the tradition in the 15th century. Pieter Brueghel
followed with his portrayals of peasant life in the 16th
century, and Pieter Paul Rubens dominated early 17th
century art as the leading artist of the Baroque period.
For most of the 18th century, while Brussels was under
Austrian rule, buildings were designed in a modest
rational, neoclassical style. After the war of
independence ended in 1831 Brussels built with a new
exuberance in an effort to catch up with and surpass the
extravagant structures of London and Paris. The first
covered shopping gallery was a product of this period.
The glass covered Galeries Saint Hubert is still open
today, and is as astounding as when it was built!
At the turn of the last century, Art Nouveau
architecture took the world by storm. This style of
architecture sought to break free of the restrictive
classical styles that dominated much 19th century art
and design. The movement in Brussels was led by Henri
Van de Velde and Victor Horta. Horta was known for his
interiors which avoided straight lines. Ceilings simply
became curved continuations of walls. Stained glass and
wrought iron were widely used to accentuate this these
free formed lines.
Horta abandoned art noveau in favor of the cleaner lines
of art deco in the 1920's and 1930's. The result was
numerous art deco apartment blocks, including the
Residence Palace with its unusual blend of a swimming
pool and theater. The Palais du Centenaire, a major
exhibition center on the northern edge of the city
features terraced tiers topped by statues.
The most dramatic post World War II structure is the
Atomium, which is modeled on a molecule of iron. It was
built for the Belgian metal industry as the showpiece
for the 1958 World's Fair. The 300 foot tall steel
structure consists of nine separate spheres linked by
cylindrical columns.
Throughout the years Brussels has been a world leader
not only in architecture but also in literature, music,
dance, painting, sculpture, and of course textiles. The
city contains a wealth of examples showing excellence in
each of these areas.
Grand'place is Europe's most ornate city square. The
soaring lines of the Gothic Town Hall dominate one side,
in contrast with the elaborately decorated baroque guild
halls that surround it. There's a daily flower market, a
bird market on Sunday morning, and frequent musical
performances.
"One of the most beautiful town squares in Europe, if
not in the world", is a phrase often heard when visitors
in Brussels try to describe the beauty of this central
market square. French speakers refer to it as the
'Grand-Place', and in Dutch it is called 'de Grote Markt'.
Writers over the years, including Victor Hugo and
Baudelaire were struck by the charm of the market square
with its rows of guild houses set against the backdrop
of the Town Hall and the king's house.
The origins of the Grand-Place were humble. The site
began as a sand bank between two brooks which ran
downhill to the river Senne. The "niedermerckt", or
'lower market' was built along it first. By the 12th
century, Brussels had become a commercial crossroads
between Bruges (in Flanders) , Cologne , and France.
English wool, French wines and German beer were sold in
the harbour and in the market.
During the early Middle Ages small wooden houses were
scattered around the market. Beginning in the 14th
century, wealthy families constructed stone mansions.
Gradually the market turned into the main commercial and
administrative center of the city. Between 1402 and 1455
the Town Hall was built. The square had by then become
the political center where meetings were held, where
executions took place and where dukes, kings and
emperors where officially received. In the centuries
that followed most wooden houses where replaced with
beautifully decorated stone ones, owned by the powerful
Brussels trade guilds.
The Grand-Place is the main tourist attraction of the
city of Brussels. It is visited in every season by
thousands who enjoy strolling through and admiring the
beautiful buildings, or sitting down on one of the many
terraces with a good Belgian beer. Concerts and musical
events are presented on the square throughout the year.
The Grand Sablon is an elegant square surrounded by
restaurants, cafés, and exclusive antique shops. Every
Saturday and Sunday morning a lively antiques market
takes over the upper part of the square. The petit
Sablon, the other half of the square, is surrounded by a
magnificent wrought-iron fence topped by 48 small bronze
statues representing the city's guilds.
Until the late 19th century, Brussels was a riverside
city, built along the banks of the River Senne. At that
time, a decision was made to brick over the river and
thus eliminate it as a source of flooding and any other
annoyance it might cause. The river still flows under
the bricked boulevard that covers it. In order to
photograph the Senne,however, one must travel outside
the city.
Belgian food is highly regarded throughout Europe. Some
say it's second only to French cuisine. Combining French
and German styles, meat and seafood are the main raw
ingredients. The Belgians claim to be the inventors of
frites (potato chips, or fries), and judging by
availability, it's a claim few would contest. These
crisp delights rank in popularity with Belgian chocolate
and Belgian beer. Mussels are another favorite.
There are many attractions the whole family will enjoy.
One that is sure to please is Brupark, an outstanding
theme park in the city's northern suburbs. There the
Atomium can be viewed from the ground by going inside
the structure. There is a 24 theater complex, a
planetarium, a water park, a miniature re-creation of
Europe that has several hands - on components.
Shopping in Brussels is a favorite occupation. Though
there are no longer 22,000 lace makers as there were in
the 17th century, visitors will have at least 40 lace
makers' shops from which to choose. Much lace is now
machine made, but handmade lace can still be found. Art
and antique shops are also abundant. Boutiques feature
the latest fashions on several of the city's streets.
Popular sports to be enjoyed in Brussels are soccer (voetbal
in Flemish), archery, horse-ball, golf, and tennis.
Nightly entertainment offers everything from discos to
classical music to jazz and rock. Some clubs feature
Latin music. Opera, ballet, and theater are all part of
the cultural life of this outstanding city.
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