Page 93 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

GREA TER BRUSSELS  91

VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
Practical Information
Laeken, 1020 BRU.
Château Royal: Ave du Parc Royal.
Closed to public.
Serres Royales: Ave de Prince
Royal. Tel (02) 551 2020.
Open mid-Apr–mid-May
(phone for details). & 8–10pm
Fri–Sun.
Pavillon Chinois: Ave J van Praet
44. Closed for structural repairs.
Tour Japonais: Avenue J van
Praet 44. Closed for structural
repairs. &
Eglise Notre Dame de Laeken:
Paris Notre Dame. Tel (02) 479 The Atomium rising 102 m (335 ft) over the Bruparck at dusk
2362. Open 2–5pm Tue–Sun. w The Atomium
Transport you around the landscapes of
@ 47, 49, 53, 57, 84, 88, 89. Square de l’Atomium, 1020 BRU. the European Union. Built at a
v 3, 7, 19, 51, 62, 93. Tel (02) 475 4775. @ 84, 88. v 3, 7, scale of 1:25, the collection
q Heysel, Bockstael. 19, 51, 93. q Heysel. Open 10am– displays buildings of social or
6pm daily. & 0 ∑ atomium.be cultural importance, such as
the Acropolis in Athens, the
Built for the 1958 World Fair (see Brandenburg Gate of Berlin and
p39), the Atomium is probably the Houses of Parliament from
the most identifiable symbol of London. Even at this scale, the
Brussels. As the world moved detail is such that it can be
into a new age of science and second only to visiting the
space travel at the end of the sights themselves.
1950s, so the design by André For film fans, Kinepolis cannot
Waterkeyn reflected this with a be beaten. Large auditoriums
structure of an iron crystal, show a range of popular films
magnified 165 billion times. from different countries on
Each of the nine spheres that 24 screens. The IMAX cinema
make up the “atom” are 18 m features surround sound and
(60 ft) in diameter, and linked a semi-circular 600 sq m
by escalators and stairs. They (6,456 sq ft) widescreen.
include exhibition rooms and a If warmth and relaxation
smart restaurant at the top of are what you are looking for,
the structure. Océade is a tropically heated
water park, complete with
e Bruparck giant slides, wave machines,
bars, cafés and even realistic
Boulevard du Centenaire, 1020 BRU. recreated sandy beaches.
Tel (02) 474 8383. @ 84, 88. v 3, 7,
19, 51, 93. q Heysel. Mini-Europe &
Océade: Tel (02) 478 0550 (Mini-
Europe); (02) 478 4320 (Océade).
Open Mar–Sep: 9:30am–6pm daily
(Jul–Aug: to 8pm); Oct–mid-Jan:
10am–6pm daily. Closed end Jan–Feb.
& Kinepolis: Tel (02) 474 2600.
Open perfomances. & for films. 0
∑ minieurope.be ∑ kinepolis.be
Although nowhere near as large
or as grand as many of the
0 metres 250
world’s theme parks, Bru parck’s
0 yards 250 sights and facilities are a popular
family destination.
The first and favourite port
of call for most visitors is Mini-
Europe, where more than 300 London’s Houses of Parliament in small
miniature reconstructions take scale at Mini-Europe
The lively and colourful Bruges market

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