Page 91 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

GREA TER BRUSSELS  89

The Pavillon Chinois, housing a museum of Chinese ceramics, in the royal estate in Laeken
and picnics. To the northeast redolent of its era. The fees Museum of Central Africa first
are two essentially authentic include a 40-minute return opened in 1899 and, after major
Oriental buildings, commis- journey in a vin tage tram of renovations lasting several
sioned by King Léopold II at the the 1920s, to the Musée Royal years, is reopening in autumn
start of the 20th century. These de l’Afrique Centrale or to 2017. The dynamic museum
are the only completed pieces the Parc du Cinquantenaire features four main themed
of a grandiose scheme to create (see pp80–81) and a ride to Place areas, with Central Africa
an architectural world tour in his du Mont in Stockel. forming the core: societies,
domain; they are now outposts showing daily life, rituals and
of the Musées Royaux d’Art et ceremonies; history, featuring
d’Histoire (see p81). The Pavillon t Musée Royal de archaeological finds and
Chinois (Chinese Pavilion) l’Afrique Centrale displays on Colonial history;
contains a fine collection of natural resources; and
Chinese ceramics, while the Tour Leuvensesteenweg 13, 3080 Tervuren. landscape and biodiversity.
Japonais (Japanese Tower) is a Road Map C4. Tel (02) 7695211. Permanent and temporary
pagoda decorated in Japanese v 44. Closed for renovations until exhibits include statues,
and Art Nouveau styles, and autumn 2017; check website for latest religious idols, dugout canoes,
contains a collec tion of samurai information. & ∑ africamuseum.be weapons, masks, utilitarian
armour and weapons. An objects, musical instruments,
additional museum space is One of the world’s leading photographs and films, maps
devoted to exhibitions on museums and research centres and a vast number of
Japanese art. devoted to Africa, the Royal specimens of flora and fauna.

r Musée du The Belgian Congo
Transport Urbain During the “scramble for Africa” in the 19th
Bruxellois century, Belgium was one of several
nations that vied for a slice of that conti-
Avenue de Tervuren 364b, 1150 BRU. nent to colonize and call its own. In 1878,
Road Map B4. Tel (02) 5153108. Belgium’s King Léopold II commissioned
@ 36, 42. v 39, 44, 94. Open Apr– the explorer Henry Morton Stanley (who
Sep: 1–7pm Sat, Sun & public holidays. famously sought and found Dr Livingstone)
& includes ride in a vintage tram. 7 to map the uncharted Congo Basin. As a
- = ∑ trammuseumbrussels.be result, Belgium laid claim to a vast territory
The main focus of the Musée du whose rich resources – gold, diamonds, Léopold II (1835–1909), King
timber, plantation crops – brought great
Transport Urbain Bruxellois is wealth to the country. Known as the of Belgium
the tram, so it is often called the Congo Free State, this land remained the
Musée du Tram. Here, lined up private fiefdom of Léopold II and eventually became notorious for
in a vast shed, are numer ous brutality and exploitation. When this was made public knowledge, the
beautifully res tored historic Belgian govern ment was forced to take over, in 1908. In 1960, amidst
vehicles, from the horse-drawn growing internal unrest, indepen dence was hastily granted. The
trams of the 1860s to the first country’s name was changed to Zaire in 1971, during the dictatorial rule
elec tric trams and trolley buses, of President Mobutu, and since his overthrow in 1997, it has been
through successive phases of known as the Democratic Republic of Congo.
modern ization, each richly

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