Bruges, Belgium - Visitor Information

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By James Andrew A Wright


Bruges is a charming medieval town in Belgium, Europe. The city is known as the 'Venice of the North', and is a renowned World Heritage Site.
Picturesque buildings, medieval architecture and winding waterways will take you back to days gone by.
Many tourists take a short visit to Bruges from Brussels, but there is too much to see in this charming city in one day - so many visitors opt for a longer break. When the sun goes down, after many tourists leave, the City becomes even more beautiful.
Brugge is a beautiful day trip location throughout the year, and makes a perfect trip from the Calais region of France.

Top 10 Places to Visit in Brussels

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By Krishan Chand


Brussels is a most popular city of Belgium and the most populous too. Brussels is the largest urban area of Belgium and also the capital city of European Union (EU). This city has grown from tenth century and today is one of the most fantastic places around the world. In Brussels you will experience an oceanic climate. Millions of people come around to this place in a year and enjoy themselves fully. The main language spoken in Brussels is Dutch. If you ever come across to Brussels, there is lot of fabulous and sensational places to visit and top 10 amongst them are -
1. Manneken Pis - As Eiffel Tower represented Paris and statue of Liberty represented New York, like these Manneken Pis is to Brussels. Although the tiny shape of a peeing boy is unmatched to the two enormous landmarks as far as size and spectacular effect, the Manneken Pis is just as dear to the hearts of residents of its home city.

Visit Medieval Bruges - A Great Travel Destination

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By Jason Markum
There are basically two or three different types of vacations that you can go on these days, either by yourself or with your family. The first type of vacation is the sad and ordinary vacation that just about everybody else goes on to the major vacation spots around the world.
These places include Disney World, the Grand Canyon, Silver Dollar City, or either your regular major European spots or your regular tropical beach destinations.
The other type of vacation you can go on is something a little bit out of the ordinary and hopefully I can convince you to take a look at Bruges today, as one of those slightly less than ordinary holiday destinations.
First of all, what is it?
Bruges is known as the Venice of the North. It is located in Northern Europe in the country of Belgium which not a lot of people think about as a travel destination... but they should!
The town has many canals crisscrossing throughout. It has a historic center with cobbled streets and quaint gabled houses that are a real treat to explore.

Christmas markets in Brussels

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Author: Paul Buchanan

Belgium has become a haven for those looking for an authentic way to celebrate the festive season, thanks to the famous Christmas markets in Brussels offering yuletide gifts, snacks and entertainments in the heart of the historic city.

The two largest Christmas markets in the city - easily found at the Grand Place and St Catherine's area, respectively - offer a plethora of attractions and entertainments for visitors of all ages throughout the Christmas period, a far cry from the overly commercialised and sanitised Christmas celebrations found in many cities in the UK and elsewhere.

Belgium may not have invented the Christmas market tradition - that honour belongs to Germany - but this smaller nation has undoubtedly taken the top spot in the minds of travellers from around the world, looking for a city break destination ideal for celebrating the season of goodwill. With fairground attractions including a big wheel and carousels, not to mention skating events held at the city's ice skating rink, ensuring that 21st century kids will be just as satisfied with the entertainment on offer as older generations.

That's not to say Brussels' Christmas markets are all about exerting energy though, as the Brussels Winter Wonderland is packed with cultural attractions to appeal to lovers of the arts too - with a number of free performances and remarkable ice sculptures gracing the streets during the period. The market stalls themselves are a major highlight, of course, and whether you're looking for home-made decorations, seasonal snacks or mulled wine, Brussels won't disappoint.

The city hosts around 240 wooden chalets specially constructed for the winter season, where visitors can buy all manner of gifts, and they transform the Belgian capital into a true winter wonderland. The shops open late into the night throughout December - typically 9pm on weekdays and 10pm on weekends - meaning you'll never feel rushed to get your Christmas shopping in during the day time. Even if you prefer to visit Brussels after spending Christmas at home with the family, the Winter Wonderland festivities take place right through to New Year.

Brussels' Christmas markets are conveniently located if you're staying near the city centre, whether at the Hotel Brussels Midi or other popular accommodation, and if you're staying in Belgium for a longer period, you could also consider taking the trip to nearby Bruges. The markets here may be less impressive in size and scale, but the yuletide atmosphere is still on par with the best Christmas markets in Europe.

Related articles

• Top Six Christmas Markets To Visit In Europe (vino-con-vista.blogspot.com)

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About the Author

Paul Buchanan writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Winter Walks in the Belgian Ardennes

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Interested in exploring the Belgian Ardennes on foot this winter? It's the ideal location for a good dose of fresh air in the hills. But before you scurry off to find your hiking boots, I feel obliged to give you three small pieces of advice.

First, there is a high chance that you will become addicted, because the Ardennes is a wonderful region for walking. It's easily accessible by car, train or bus; there are hundreds of well-marked walking routes of various lengths; the scenery is breathtaking; the nature is fascinating; and yet you are never too far from a café, hotel or village shop. In other words, once you have walked in the Ardennes, your free weekends may never be the same again.

Second, be prepared for sudden changes in the weather. I have set off in glorious sunshine to find myself in a hail storm just an hour later. In addition, the higher you ascend, the colder will be that chill wind. So dress for the worst eventuality. For a winter walk, this means warm clothing, sensible footwear, a waterproof coat, gloves and a hat. Take sufficient water and snacks; personally I always take a thermos flask of hot soup. And do not leave your mobile phone at home.

Third, take a detailed walking map. These are readily available from local bookshops and tourist offices. Plan in advance to know where you intend to walk, and the length and duration of your route. This will help avoid unpleasant surprises, especially if you are taking children with you.

So, armed with these hopefully helpful warnings, it's time to pack up your backpack and go. But where? It's easy to look at a map of the Ardennes and feel overwhelmed by all the possibilities, so a few of my personal favorites might help you decide where to start.

Hertogenwald Forest, Eupen

I am particularly fond of this area as it was my first encounter with the Ardennes. It offers a splendid mixture of landscapes: impenetrable, silent, coniferous forests; deserted moorland stretching to the horizon; and picturesque babbling brooks. It can be reached by taking the N67 south-east from Eupen. Halfway to Monschau is the Ternell Nature Center. This old forester's house was built in 1770 and transformed two hundred years later into a museum and information center. I recommend the route heading north-east from the nature center into the forest. The first time I walked this route I had to cross the River Getzbach by taking off my boots and socks and wading across. When I returned a few years later, I was quite disappointed to find a bridge had been installed. Next to the nature center is a cosy tavern serving excellent snacks. When ordering, don't forget that you are in German-speaking Belgium!

River Ourthe, La Roche-en-Ardenne

If you want to make a weekend of your trip to the Ardennes, La Roche-en-Ardenne is an excellent base from which to explore the River Ourthe, as it offers numerous hotels and restaurants. Most people walking in this area will be drawn to the well-known sights of the Nadrin Belvedere, the Nisramont Dam, Saint Margeurite's Cross and the confluence of the two Ourthes (Orientale and Occidentale). All of these are well worth visiting, but if like me you prefer to steer away from the crowds, then I would recommend trying one of the less popular but equally outstanding walks from the villages of Maboge, Grande Mormont or Bonnerue. My tip would be the 8 km Champs Thomas walk from Maboge. The deserted uplands seem to be a favorite hunting ground at this time of the year for hen harriers. These rare birds of prey are similar to the more commonly seen buzzards but have a white rump and fly with their wings held in a shallow 'V' as they glide low over the fields in search of a mouse or vole.

Anlier Forest

Even deeper into the Ardennes, between Martelange and Habay-la-Neuve in the province of Luxemburg, is the huge 7000-hectare Anlier Forest, one of the biggest forests in the country. Its northern slopes reach an altitude of 517 meters and are drained by the tributary streams of the River Sûre, which flows into Germany as the Sauer and eventually into the Moselle. The forest is so vast that parts of it are virtually unexplored. Living in its deeper recesses are deer, wild boar, badgers, foxes and wildcats. I have enjoyed many hours walking along the banks of the rivers Sûre and Géronne hoping to catch a glimpse of an otter, which is making a comeback in this region. Beavers have also been re-introduced into these river systems. A particularly attractive walk starts from Volaiville and gives you close-up views of two watermills on the Géronne.

These three walks will give you an excellent introduction to this lovely area in the south of Belgium.

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Denzil Walton is a professional writer based near Brussels. Focusing on technical copywriting, he also enjoys writing about the flora and fauna of Belgium.



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Brussels and Its Cultural Monuments

Image by fatboyke (Luc) via FlickrMichael Smallet
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Brussels is a recognized center of European culture as the city has numerous historical monuments. However, currently the capital of Belgium is more known for the high development of modern science and art. The symbol of Brussels is the famous Manneken Pis, The Peeing Boy, a fountain dating back to early 17th century, centrally located a few steps from the main square. Julien, as they call the sculpture of the boy is often decorated in various ways. To give him a dress is a particular honor which is only awarded to distinguished guests of the city.
In the historical center of Brussels there is the Grand Place, considered by many people as one of the most beautiful squares of the continent. Around it you can find the town hall, built in the Gothic style from 1401 to 1455, the so-called King's House (1515-1525), the House of Guilds (1696-1720). Nearby sits the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Saint-Michel-et-Gyudyul. Its construction took over 200 hundred years, from 1226 to 1490. Truly, it is a remarkable monument of the Gothic architecture. Around this spectacular building the business districts of the capital are located. They are surrounded by numerous shopping areas and very interesting and picturesque boutiques.

The upper city was built after the historical center. Yet, it has many architectural monuments belonging to the 18th and 19th centuries, including the ceremonial ensemble of classic Plaza Royale (1774-1780) and the Place de Martyrs (1772-1775). This neighborhood can be called a City of Palaces. You will find here the Palace of Justice (1866-1883), The Royal Palace founded in the 18th century and rebuilt several times, the last renovation was done in the 20th century. Other interesting palaces include the Houses of Parliament (1779-1783), The Palace of Fine Arts (1922-1928), The Palace of the Century (1935) which was built to commemorate the anniversary of independence of Belgium.

The architectural appearance of the capital is not just shaped by individual monuments of the Middle Ages, Renaissance and modern times. The uniqueness of Brussels is all about the organic combination of antiquity and modernity. Some of the buildings constructed after the Second World War became landmarks of the city as they harmonically fit in the surrounding neighborhoods. First of such is the Central Station (1953) and two buildings dating to 1958, when a World Fair was convened in the capital: the Social Security House and the Board of the Bank Brussels Lambert.

The city has a great number of museums. Of particular interest are primarily those where you can see the paintings of the old Flemish artisans, and the heirs of their glory, the Belgian avant-garde painters. The paintings of the past centuries and the present time are widely represented at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts and municipal Museum of Fine Arts.

Belgians are keen to preserve historical roots, both of their own country and other countries. The richest collection of archaeological and ethnographic finds (including Egyptian antiquities) is the pride of the Royal Museum of Art and History. The extensive material collected by Belgian scientists during expeditions to the African Continent is on display at the Royal Museum of Central Africa. The majority of the exhibits was brought to Brussels from Congo when this country for several decades was a colony of Belgium.

The proud status of the European Capital is maintained by the appearance and look of Brussels. One interesting place definitely worth visiting is the museum of 'Small Europe' in the open air. It displays copies of the most prominent buildings and monuments in major cities of Western Europe, each 1/25th of the original size. A pride of Brussels is the Royal National Library, with over three million titles in stock.

Numerous educational and scientific institutions include the Brussels University, founded in 1834, the Free University established in 1970, the Geographic Institute, the Graduate School of Political and Social Sciences, the internationally renowned Pasteur Institute, and the Royal Institute of Natural History. The capital also hosts the National Academy of Sciences and Arts. The conservatory was founded in Brussels in 1832, and the Royal Theatre de la Monnaie opened in 1700.

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