Page 225 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

BRUSSELS  223

p165), and two large exhibition w Bruparck
areas. By the time of the 1880
Art and Industry Exposition, Boulevard du Centenaire. Tel 02-474
however, only the two side 8383. @ 84, 88. v 3, 7, 19, 51.
q Heysel. Mini-Europe: Tel 02-474
exhibition areas had been 1313. Open daily. Closed Jan–mid-
completed. Further funds were Mar. & Océade: Tel 02-478 4944.
found, and work continued for Open weekends, public hols & school
50 years. The arch was hols. & 7 Kinepolis: Tel 02-474
completed in 1905. Until 1935, 2603. Open for performances only.
the large halls on either side of Atomium: Tel 02-475 4775. Open
the central archway were used daily. & 0 - = ∑ bruparck.
to hold trade fairs, before being com ∑ atomium.be
converted into museums.
Also known as the Musée du Located on the outskirts of the
Cinquantenaire, the excellent city, this theme park is popular
Musées Royaux d’Art et with families. The most visited
d’Histoire contain a vast array attraction is Mini-Europe, which
of exhibits. Sections on ancient has more than 300 miniature
civilizations cover Egypt, Greece, recons tructions (built at a scale
Persia, and the Near East. Other of 1:25) of Europe’s major sights,
displays feature Byzantium and Historic aircraft display at Musée Royal de from Athens’ Acropolis to
Islam, China and the Indian l’armée et d’Histoire Militaire London’s Houses of Parliament.
subcontinent, and the Pre- For movie fans, Kinepolis has
Columbian civilizations of the himself designed the house, 27 cinemas, including an
Americas. Decorative arts from between 1898 and 1901. The IMAX complex.
all ages include glassware, airy interior of the building If warmth and relaxation is
silverware, porcelain, lace, and displays trademarks of the required, Océade is a tropically
tapestries. There are also religious architect’s style – iron, glass, heated water park that features
sculptures and stained glass. and curves – in every detail, giant slides, wave machines, and
The Musée Royal de l’Armée while retaining a functional even artificial sandy beaches.
et d’Histoire Militaire deals approach. Most impressive are Towering over Bruparck is
with all aspects of Belgium’s the dining room, with its ornate Brussels’ most distinctive
military history. There are new ceiling featuring scrolled landmark, the Atomium.
sections on both World Wars, metalwork, and the central Designed by André Waterkeyn
as well as a separate hall staircase. Decorated with for the 1958 World’s Fair, and
containing historic aircraft. curved wrought iron, the stairs representing an iron crystal
Housed in the south wing are enhanced further by magnified 165 billion times, the
of the Cinquantenaire Palace, mirrors and glass, bringing structure has a viewing platform
Autoworld has one of the natural light into the house. and restaurant at the top.
best collections of classic
automobiles in the world.
Part formal gardens, part
tree-lined walks, the park
is popular with Brussels’s
Eurocrats and families at
lunchtimes and weekends.
q Musée Horta
Rue Américaine 23–25. Tel 02-543 0490.
@ 54. v 81, 82, 91. q Albert, Louise.
Open 2–5:30pm Tue–Sun. Closed
public hols. ∑ hortamuseum.be
Architect Victor Horta
(1861–1947) is considered
the father of Art Nouveau,
and his impact on Brussels’s
architecture is unrivaled by
any other designer of his time.
A museum dedicated to his
unique style is today housed
in his restored family home, in
the St. Gilles district. Horta The Atomium, rising 100 m (325 ft) over the Bruparck

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