What to see and where to go in Brussels?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walks. Map, photographs and brief description.
Big market
The Grand Market or Grand Place is a historical square where the Town Hall and the Bread House are located. The square arose in the 12th century on the site of dried marshes. There are many shops, cafes and restaurants around. Every two years on August 15, a carpet of fresh flowers is created here, creating a pattern measuring 24 by 77 meters, with a total area of 1,800 m².
Manneken Pis
Pissing Boy is a 61cm miniature figure of a boy peeing in a swimming pool. The history of its creation is surrounded by many legends. The statue was made in the 14th century and has been stolen many times since then. One of the copies is now installed. On holidays, instead of water, beer or wine is poured into the pool.
Brussels City Hall
Brussels City Hall is located on the Grand Platz. Construction began back in 1402, after which the town hall was modified many times and new parts were added. At the top of the bell tower there is a five-meter statue of the Archangel Michael killing the devil. Today you can see the interior decoration at any time, except during city council meetings.
Royal Palace
The Royal Palace is the residence of the Belgian monarch, used for various official events. Everyone can get inside the palace for free and explore its galleries and rooms. The Bellevue History Museum is also located here.
Mountain of Arts
The Mount des Arts is a hill in the center of Brussels on which the Royal Library of Belgium and the Palais des Congrès are located, as well as the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Musical Instruments and other exhibition halls.
Atomium
The Atomium is a monument symbolizing the limitless peaceful possibilities of atomic energy in the form of a model of an iron molecule enlarged 165 billion times. The height is 102 m, there is a restaurant and an observation deck on top. In one of the areas there is a hotel and a small cafe.
Laeken Palace
Laeken Palace is the residence palace of the Belgian royal family, built in 1781-1785. In the adjacent park there are unusual buildings – a Chinese house and a Japanese tower. The palace is not accessible to the public and can only be viewed from behind the fence, but you can visit the royal greenhouses, the Chinese House and the Japanese Tower.
Palace of Justice
The Palace of Justice is the building of the state court in Brussels. The premises include 27 courtrooms, 245 smaller rooms, 8 courtyards. The height of the main entrance hall with the dome is almost 100 m. The palace is currently under reconstruction. The upper, open gallery offers a panoramic view of Brussels; on weekdays you can visit it for free.
European Parliament building
The European Parliament building is built in the shape of a wing, and the 60-meter-high tower, according to the architects’ plans, looks unfinished, which symbolizes an incomplete list of European Union countries.
Sacre-Coeur Basilica
The Sacré-Coeur Basilica is a Catholic basilica in Brussels, which began construction in 1905 and was completed in 1969. The main hall seats 2,000 people and often hosts organ concerts and touring church choirs, art exhibitions and special events. There is a theater and two museums: contemporary religious art and the female monastic order of the Black Sisters.