Page 32 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

30  INTRODUCING BRUSSELS

Average Monthly Rainfall
Rainfall chart
MM Inches On the whole,
300 12 Belgium is rather a
240 rainy country, with
9 Brussels expe riencing
180 constant low rainfall
6 throughout the year.
120 Spring is the driest
3 season, but summers
60 can be damp. In
winter, rain may turn
0 0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec to snow and sleet.
Festival d’Eté de Bruxelles Autumn
(Jul–Aug). Classical concerts
take place through the high Cooler autumn evenings lure
summer in venues around music lovers to perfor mances of
the Upper and Lower Town. innovative jazz in the city’s cafés
Foire du Midi (mid-Jul–mid–Aug). and the French cultural centre
Brussels’ main station, Gare du in Le Botanique. Architecture
Midi, is host to this month-long is celebrated in the heritage
funfair, which attracts people weekend where the public can
in their thousands. Especially tour many private houses and
popular with children, it is one personal art collections.
of the biggest fairs in Europe,
and includes an enormous September
Ferris wheel. Nuit Blanche (first weekend).
Belgian National Day (21 Jul). This mix of live music, DJs,
The 1831 declaration of multimedia projects and
independence is com mem- installations turns the EU
orated annually with a military Costumed revellers at the Plantation Quarter into an open-air all-
parade followed by a firework of the Meiboom night party.
display in the Parc de Bruxelles. The Birthday of Manneken
Palais Royal Open Days The cobblestones of the Grand Pis (last weekend). Brussels’
(last week in Jul–second week Place are carpeted with millions cele brated mascot is clothed
of Sep). The opulent staterooms of fresh flowers in patterns echo- in a new suit by a chosen
of the Palais Royal, the official ing historical scenes. The flower dignitary from abroad.
residence of the Belgian Royal carpet meas ures 2,000 sq m International Comic
family (see pp62–3), are open to (21,000 sq ft) and is displayed Strip and Cartoon Festival
the public for six weeks during forr only four days. (early Sep). Artists and
the summer. Visitors can even
peek inside the throne room.
August
Plantation du Meiboom
(9 Aug). This traditional festival
dates from 1213. A large crowd,
all in costume and carrying
elaborate puppets, parades
around the Lower Town, finally
reaching the Grand Place,
where a May tree is planted
as a celebration of summer.
The event is accompanied
by much eating, drinking
and partying.
Tapis des Fleurs (mid-Aug,
biennially, for four days).
Taking place every other even
year, this colourful celebration
pays tribute to Brussels’ long-
established flower industry. The Grand Place, carpeted in millions of fresh flowers

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