Page 8 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

6  HOW T O USE THIS GUIDE

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

This guide helps you get the most from your Brussels Area by Area and Beyond Brussels are
visit to Brussels and nearby Bruges, Ghent the main sightseeing sections, covering all
and Antwerp. It provides detailed practical the important sights, with maps, photo­
information and expert recommendations. graphs and illustrations. Information on
Introducing Brussels sets the Belgian capital hotels, restaurants, shops, entertainment
in its geographical, historical and cultural and sports is found in Travellers’ Needs. The
context, describes events taking place Survival Guide details practical advice on
throughout the year and recommends transport services, medical facilities,
itineraries for city breaks of varying lengths. currency, communications and security.

Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp
The centre of Brussels has colour-coded for ease of section covering sights outside
been divided into two reference, with an introduction of the city. Bruges, Ghent and
sightseeing areas: the Lower to the part of the city it covers Antwerp, as well as other
Town and the Upper Town. and an Area Map. The two Belgian towns, are explored in
Each has its own chapter, chapters are followed by a the Beyond Brussels section.

Area Map
BRUSSELS AREA B Y AREA  45
Sights at a Glance THE LOWER TOWN 1For easy reference, the sights in
Historic Buildings and
Monuments Most visits to Brussels begin with a stroll Brouckère and the busy Boulevard Anspach each area are numbered and
2 Hôtel de Ville pp48–9 around the Lower Town, the ancient heart of are the more recent additions to the city’s
3 Manneken Pis the city and home to its most famous area, history. These appeared in the 19th century
7 La Bourse the Grand Place (see pp46–7). The original when the slums around the River Senne
Museums and Galleries settlement of the city was located here and were cleared to make way for ornate located on an area map. To help
1 Musée du Costume et de la most of the streets surrounding this market constructions such as the financial cen tre,
Dentelle
8 Bruxella 1238 square date from the Middle Ages up to the La Bourse, and Europe’s first shop ping the visitor, the map also shows
18th century. The archi tecture is an eclectic
arcade, Galeries St-Hubert. With its many
r Comics Art Museum pp54–5
a Maison de la Bellone blend of Gothic, Baroque and Flemish restaurants and cafés, the Lower Town is
Churches Renaissance. In and around the Place de also popular during the evening. metro and tram stations.
4 Notre-Dame de la Chapelle
9 Eglise St-Nicolas 0 metres 500
o Eglise St-Jean-Baptiste Yzer
s Eglise Ste-Catherine 0 yards 500
Shopping NIEUWPOORT LAAN Ijzer BLVD D’ANVERS ANTWERPSELAAN
0 Galeries St-Hubert
y Rue Neuve BARBES CHAUX RUE GINESTE STR.
Streets and Squares QUAI A LA Rogier BOTANIQUE BOTANIQUE JARDIN Each area of Brussels has
q Rue des Bouchers BLVD QUAI AUX RUE DE LAEKEN LAKENSESTRAAT BLVD EMILE JACQMAIN LAAN KRUIDTUINLAAN
BLVD DU JARDIN
i Place de Brouckère RUE DU GRAND HOSPICE
RUE DE GROOTGODSHUISSTR. Botanique
Theatres FLANDRE Ste-Cathérine BLVD ADOLPHE MAX LAAN Kruidtuin colour-coded thumb tabs
St- Katelijne
w Théâtre Marionnettes de Toone PLACE DES BOULEVARD PACHECO LAAN
e Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie STEENWEG VLAAMSE MARTELAARS RUE DU MARIAS BROEKSTR.
MARTYRS
p Théâtre Royal Flamand RUE A. DANSAERT STR. PLEIN
Cultural Centres BLVD BARTHELEMY LAAN RUE DU GRAND SERMENT STR. R DE LA VIERGE NOIRE De Brouckère
t Le Botanique 8 •25 •35 ANSPACHLAAN
Historic Districts RUE DES RUE DES BLVD. ANSPACH 3 •13 A locator map shows you
5 Quartier Marolles FABRIEKSTR. CHARTREUX KARTUIZERSSTR.
6 Halles St-Géry SLACHTHUIS LAAN Bourse RUE DE LA MONTAGNE
BERGSTRAAT
ZENNESTR.
Hotels BLVD DE L'ABATTOIR RUE DE LA SENNE RUE VAN ARTEVELDE STR. Beurs GRASMARKT where you are in relation to
RUE DU MARCHE AUX
u Hôtel Métropole RUE D’ANDERLECHT RUE DU MIDI ZUIDSTRAAT LO MBARD STR RUE DE 26 •39 Restaurants pp150–53 25 La Kasbah surrounding areas.
See also Street Finder
ANDERLECHTS ESTEENWEG
maps 1 & 2
Anneessens
BLVD MAURICE LEMONNIER LAAN PLACE ROUPE PLEIN RUE DES URSULINES URSULINIENSTR. DE DINANT PLACE PLEIN 1 Alexandre 26 ‘t Kelderke
27 La Manufacture
2 Arcadi
28 Mappa Mundo
3 Aux Armes de Bruxelles
29 La Marée
4 Bar Bik
AVENUE DE
30 A la Mort Subite
5 Belga Queen
STALINGRAD LAAN Chapelle Kapelle RUE HAUTE HOOGSTRAAT 6 La Belle Maraichere 31 De Noordzee - La Mer Recommended restaurants in the
ZUID LAAN
BLVD. DU MIDI
du Nord
7 Big Mama
BLVD. POINCARE LAAN
32 Nuëtnigenough
8 Bonsoir Clara
9 Brasserie Horta
33 O Bifanas
Lemonnier
RUE BLAES STRAAT 10 Café Metropole 34 L’Ogenblik
35 Le Pain Quotidien
11 La Cantina
12 Le Cap
36 Le Paon Royal
PLACE DU 13 Chez Leon 37 Pin Pon area are listed and plotted on the map.
RUE HAUTE HOOGSTRAAT 16 Comme Chez Soi 40 La Roue d’Or
JEU DE BALLE 14 Chez Patrick 38 Plattesteen
VOSSENPLEIN 15 Le Cirio 39 La Rose Blanche
41 Le Roy d’Espagne
17 Comocomo
HALLEPOORTLAAN
BLVD DU MIDI ZUID LAAN
AV DE LA PORTE DE HAL
42 Sea Grill
18 Delirium
19 Gecko
44 Taverne du Passage
20 Le Greenwich 43 Strofilia
21 L’Idiot du Village 45 Den Teepot
The 15th century Hôtel de Ville, or town hall, 22 In ‘t Spinnekopke 46 Vincent
47 Vismet
illuminated on a Brussels evening
23 Jardin van Gogh
24 Kafka 48 Het Warm Water
For keys to symbols see back flap
48  BRUSSELS AREA B Y AREA THE L OWER T OWN  49
1 Musée du which demonstrates the various The current statue of In 1698 the governor of
Costume et de schools of lacemaking across Manneken Pis by Jérôme the Netherlands, Maximilian The Legends of
Manneken Pis
la Dentelle France, Flanders and Italy. The Duquesnoy the Elder has Emmanuel, brought a gift to The charm of this famous
museum displays temporary
the city in the form of a blue
been in place since 1619.
Sights at a Glance lists the area’s Rue de la Violette 12, 1000 BRU. exhibitions of contemporary However, there is evidence to woollen coat for the statue. statue comes from the many
Map 2 D3. @ 29, 38, 46, 48, 63, 71, 86,
textiles and fashion.
This is a tradition that
rumours and fables behind it.
suggest that a stone
95. v 3, 4, 32. Tel (02) 213 4450.
q Gare Centrale. Open 10am–5pm fountain depicting the continues today, with visiting One theory claims that in
the 12th century the son
same figure stood there
heads of state donating
key sights by category. The Tue–Sun. Closed Mon, 1 May, 1 & 11 3 Manneken Pis before it, possibly as early miniature versions of their of a duke was
Nov, 25 Dec. & 7 8 on request,
call (02) 213 4450. ∑ museedu Rues de l’Etuve & du Chêne, 1000 BRU. as 1451. In its long history, national costume. The little caught urinating
against a tree in
numbered bullets correspond costumeetdeladentelle.be Map 1 C3. @ 29, 38, 46, 48, 63, 71, the statuette has been the boy now has a collection of the midst of a battle
victim of several thefts. A
over 800 outfits, which are
and was thus com-
86, 95. v 3, 4, 32. q Gare Centrale.
housed in the Musée de la
Found within two 17th-century
particularly violent theft
memorated in
with those on the Area Map. gabled houses is the museum A wedding dress at the Musée du Costume An unlikely attraction, this tiny in 1965 left the statue Ville de Bruxelles in the bronze as a
Maison du Roi on the Grand
broken in two pieces,
et de la Dentelle
symbol of mil-
dedicated to one of Brussels’
statue of a young boy barely
most successful exports, Belgian
Place (see p46), where
61 cm (2 ft) high reliev ing
leaving just the ankles
The inspiration
lace (see pp26–7). The intricate collection explains and displays himself into a small pool is as and feet remaining. around 100 are on display itary courage.
skill employed by Belgian lace- the history of this delicate craft. much a part of Brussels as the The missing body of at any one time. Among for the statue has
makers has contributed a vital The second floor houses a Trevi Fountain is part of Rome the statue reappeared the collection are been revealed
economic role in the city since small collection of antique or Trafalgar Square’s proud lions a year later when it miniature Samurai, Santa as Cupid.
the 17th century, and the lace, carefully stored in drawers, are of London. was found in a canal. Claus and Elvis suits.
2 Hôtel de Ville The belfry was built The gabled roof, like VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
by architect Jan van much of the town hall,
Ruysbroeck. A sta- was fully restored in 1837,
The idea of having a town hall to reflect Brussels’ growth tue of St Michael and cleaned in Practical Information
as a major European trading centre had been under tops the 96 m the 1990s. Grand Place, 1000 BRU
Map 2 D3. Tel (02) 279 2343
consideration since the end of the 13th century. It was not (315 ft) spire. (general info); (02) 548 0447
until 1401 that the first foundation stone was laid and the A detail of the delicately carved façade with Aldermen’s (for visits). Hôtel de Ville: Open
stone statues
Practical information provides building was finally completed in 1455, emerging as the room for guided tours. Closed pub
finest civic building in the country, a stature it still enjoys.
hols, election days. & (tickets
at Hôtel de Ville or Grand Place
Jacques van Thienen was commissioned to design the
everything you need to know to left wing and belfry of the building, where he used orn ate tourist office). 8 in English: Wed
2pm, Sun 11am, 3pm & 4pm.
columns, sculptures, turrets and arcades. The tower and
∑ visitbrussels.be
visit each sight. Map refe rences spire begun in 1449 by Jan van Ruysbroeck helped seal its Transport
reputation. In 1995, the 1455 statue of the city’s patron saint,
@ 29, 38, 46, 48, 63, 66, 71, 86, 95.
Michael, was restored and it now resides inside the tower;
v 3, 4, 32. q Gare Centrale.
pinpoint the sight’s location on the a copy of the statue sits on top of the tower. Tours
are available of the interior, which contains
18th-century tapestries and works of art.
Street Finder maps (see pp180–81).
137 statues
adorn walls
and many
mullioned
windows.
. Conference Room
Council Chamber
The most splendid of all the
public rooms. Ancient tapes tries
Major sights are dissected . Aldermen’s Room and gilt mirrors line the walls
above an inlaid floor.
to reveal their interiors; Still in use today for the meetings Wedding Room
of the aldermen and mayor of
Brussels, this council chamber
A Neo-Gothic style dominates this
civil marriage office, with its many
contains a series of 18th-century
museums and galleries have tapestries depicting the history of Banqueting room ornate carved timbers, including
6th-century King Clovis.
ancient ebony and mahogany.
colour-coded floorplans to
help you find key exhibits.
Detailed Information
2All the important sights are listed in order, following the
numbering on the Area Map. Practical information, including
map references and opening hours, is also included.
006-007_EW_Brussels_new.indd 6 10/01/17 11:03 am