Page 9 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

HOW T O USE THIS GUIDE  7

Brussels Area by Area
The coloured areas shown on this Brussels Area by Area Greater Brussels Wemmel
All the sights that appear on the central section of the map
are detailed in the Upper and Lower Town chapters of this
map (see inside front cover) are the guide. Public transport is cheap and efficient in Brussels, Jette Diegen
but the distances involved, together with the city’s
wealth of exceptional street archi tec ture, make walking a
two main sightseeing areas used pleasant option. Sights outside the centre are described in Dilbeek Koekelberg Schaerbeek Kraainem
the Greater Brussels chapter (see pp84–91) while Bruges,
Ghent and Antwerp are covered in Beyond Brussels (see pp92–135).
in this guide. Each is covered in Anderlecht St-Gilles Ixelles Woluwe- Tervuren
St-Pierre
a full chapter in Brussels Area by BLVD DU JARDIN BOTANIQUE 0 km 0 miles 3 3 Uccle Auderghem
Area (see pp42–79). BLVD E. JACQMAIN LAAN KRUIDTUINLAAN The Upper Town
Pages 58–79
THE LOWER CHAUSSEE DE LOUVAIN LEUVENSESTEENWEG
TOWN
RUE A. DANSAERT STRAAT
GRAND PLACE
GROTE MARKT RUE ROYALE K O NI NGSSTR AAT
BOU L EVAR D M. LEM ONN I E R LA A N PLACE ROYALE B LVD D E R E GEN T L A A N R UE DE L A LOI W E T S TR AAT TOWN R. SCHUMAN AVE DE CORTENBERG KORTENBERGLAAN
THE UPPER
ROND PONT
KONINGSPLEIN
AVE DE LA RENAISSANCE LAAN
PLEIN
RUE HAUTE HOOGSTRAAT B LVD DE WAT E R LO O L AAN R U E DU TR ON E TR O ONS TR. AVE DES NERVIENS NERVIERSLAAN
R UE B E LL IAR D S T RA AT
The Lower Town
Pages 44–57 0 metres 500
0 yards 500
BRUSSELS AREA B Y AREA  85
GREATER BRUSSELS
Past the heart-shaped ring-road of Brussels north, Heysel offers attractions whose Greater Brussels
city centre lie 19 suburbs (communes) which modernity contrasts with the historical city
form the Bruxelles-Capitale region. While stands next to the Bruparck theme park. To 3This section covers those sights of interest that
centre. The 1958 Atomium, now restored,
many are residential, a handful are definitely
worth the short ride to sample outlying the east, the Central Africa Museum reflects
treasures of Brussels’ fascinating history. For Belgium’s colonial past in the Congo, and lie just outside of Brussels and are easily
fans of early 20th-century architecture, the the tram museum takes a journey through
suburb of St-Gilles offers numerous original Brussels’ urban past. Peace and tranquillity
examples of striking Art Nouveau buildings, can be found close to the metropolis, in the
including the Horta Museum. In Koekelberg orderly landscape of Royal Laeken and accessible from the city centre.
and visible from the Upper Town is the huge the lush green spaces of the Bois de la
Sacré-Coeur basilica, started in 1904. To the Cambre and the Fôret de Soignes.
Sights at a Glance
Key
Churches and Cathedrals Parks and Gardens
8 Basilique Nationale du Sacré- 5 Fôret de Soignes Central Brussels
Coeur q Domaine de Laeken see pp90–91 Motorway
Historic Monuments, Buildings e Bruparck Major Road
and Districts Museums and Exhibition Areas Minor road
2 Avenue Louise 1 Horta Museum see p86 Railway
3 St-Gilles 9 Musée du Tram
4 Ixelles 0 Musée Royal de l’Afrique Beyond Brussels
6 Uccle Centrale BEY OND BRUSSELS  95
7 Anderlecht w The Atomium
BEYOND BRUSSELS 4Places worth visiting that
Brussels lies at the heart of Belgium, on the divide are within a day’s travel of
Wemmel N12 Antwerp Brussels between the Flemish north and the French-speaking BRUSSELS
Walloon south. Its central position makes Brussels an
Airport
Zellik ideal base for visitors: within easy reach by road and rail are Brussels – including Bruges,
R21 the historic Flemish cities of Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp. All of
Diegen
Ghent these cities have fine late-medieval architecture, superb museums
Evere A201 Zaventem and excellent restaurants – yet each is markedly different in character.
A10 Ganshoren Jette Ghent and Antwerp – are
Ste-Agatha- Schaerbeek N2 Leuven Bruges is a pocket-sized gem of a city. and museums, canals and shopping
Berchem R0 Flourishing on international trade, streets. The city also benefits from a
Koekelberg St-Josse A2 Kraainem brought in on its canals, it was one of thriving university, which lends it a described here. The general
R0
Molenbeek R20
Dilbeek N8 BRUSSELS Woluwe-Saint- the wealthiest cities of medieval Europe, youthful vigour.
Lambert
Ninove Anderlecht Woluwe- and capital of the Dukes of Burgundy, Sitting on the bank of the broad introduction is followed by a
who were famed for their lavish lifestyles.
River Scheldt, with direct access to the
N6 Etterbeek Saint-Pierre Then it fell into decline until it was North Sea, Antwerp was and still is a
St-Gilles Ixelles rediscovered in the 19th century and busy port-city. Outward-looking and
N3 Tervuren map that gives an illustrated
Forest Auderghem restored in glorious Neo-Gothic style. ambitious, it has an edge that has placed
Exquisitely beautiful, eminently walkable
it at the forefront of fashion design and
Watermael- and packed with romantic places to stay, contemporary art though it remains the
Uccle N5 Boitsfort N4 it has become one of Europe’s most home of Rubens, and embraces the overview of the region,
A7 0 km 2 popular and rewarding destinations. legacy of his great Baroque age.
Drogenbos 0 miles 2 Ghent developed along a similar path, All around lie other extraordinary
Ruisbroek Mons and retained its medieval heart as it places – Mechelen, Ypres, Leuven and with major roads marked
The Atomium monument in the Heysel Park, Brussels For keys to symbols see back flap became an industrial centre in the more – with a similar tale to tell and
18th and 19th centuries. With one of historic heritage to prove it. And just to and useful tips for getting
Europe’s most extensive pedestrianized the south of Brussels lies the battlefield
centres, it is a great place to wander of Waterloo, where the destiny of
around, while exploring its many sights modern Europe, no less, was decided. around by bus and train.
Fine Flemish architecture on the banks of Bruges’ network of canals
Tall spires of the Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp
Stars indicate the sights
that no reader should miss.
Street-by-Street Map 98  BEY OND BRUSSELS BRUGES  99
5This map gives a bird’s-eye view of . The Markt
1 Street-by-Street: Bruges
Medieval gabled houses VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
line this 13th-century
interesting and important parts of With good reason, Bruges is one of the most popular tourist market square at the Practical Information
* 119,000. n T’Zand, Markt 1,
destinations in Belgium. An unspoilt medieval town, Bruges’
heart of Bruges. It still
winding streets pass by pic turesque canals lined with fine holds a market each and Stationsplein. (050) 44 4646.
∑ brugge.be
each sightseeing area. buildings. The centre of Bruges is amazingly well preserved. Transport
Wednesday.
The town’s trade was badly affected when the River Zwin
£ Stationsplein.
silted up at the end of the 15th century and was never heavily
industrialized, retaining most of its medieval buildings as a @ Stationsplein, Markt.
result. As a further bonus, Bruges also escaped major damage M A R K T Oude Griffie, or Old
in both World Wars. Recorder’s House
Today, the streets are well maintained: there are no
billboards or high rises, and traffic is heavily regulated. All the B U R G
major attractions are located within the circle of boulevards
that marks the line of the old medieval walls.
The Visitors’ Checklist S T . N I K L A A S S T R . W O L L E S T R A A T Alley of the Blind Donkey
This narrow, arched alley
provides the practical information leads from the Burg to the
19th-century Vismarkt.
you need to plan your visit. S T E E N S T R A A T L O P P E M S T R A A T
The Rozenhoedkaai
A charming introduction to Bruges is S I M O N O U D E B U R G R O Z E N H O E D K A A I
provided by the boat trips along the
city’s canal network. S T E V I N P L E I N
Heilig Bloed
Basiliek
A suggested route takes in N I E U W S T R A A T
some of the most interesting S T . S A L V A T O R S K E R K H O F M A R I A S T R A A T D I J V E R
streets in the area. . Stadhuis
One of the oldest and finest town halls
Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk Groeningemuseum in Belgium, this was built be tween
The Church of Our Lady employs many (see pp104–5) 1376 and 1420. Inside, the beautifully
architectural styles. It took around 200 restored Gothic hall is noted for its
years to build, and its spire is Belgium’s 1385 vaulted ceiling.
tallest in brick. Arentshuis Museum
Gruuthusemuseum Key
(see pp102–3)
Memling in Sint- Suggested route
Janshospitaal
Six of the artist’s works
are shown in the small The Belfort
chapel of the Built in the 13th century, the
12th-century Sint- Belfort or Belfry is a stunning
Janshospitaal, a city 0 metres 100 tower where the city’s
hospital that was still 0 yards 100 medieval charter of rights
operating until 1976. were held.
006-007_EW_Brussels_new.indd 7 10/01/17 11:03 am