Brussels, Belgium/ Family Travelogue 14 June 2015

Mont des Arts garden with the view of the spire of the Brussels Town Hall, Belgium

We had arrived Brussels 9am, about 2 hours travel from Amsterdam.  Our main purpose stopping in this city was to see the Manneken Pis, tried their famous waffles and buy chocolates.  We did not
have any other in the list.  We thought of half day was enough in Brussels.  But the cheapest fare from Amsterdam to Brussels was to leave at 7:17am, 117.75 euros for four (inclusive of other charges).  We were kind a bit bored afterwards, we could have arranged a trip to Cologne, Germany.  Nevertheless, we just kept walking, we never realized we had been to most of the must  see in the city.

We had stayed at Aparthotel Adagio Brussels Centre Monnaie located at 20 Anspachlaan..  Apparently, the hotel is in the city centre.  We paid 200 euros for a night stay plus 3euros city tax.  Most of our accommodations were booked via Booking.com.  

Brussels Stock Exchange (also known as Bourse de Bruxelles)

On our way to the Manneken Pis, we passed by this building.  The mixed Neo-Renessaince and Second Empire architectural style building housed the Brussels Stock Exchange until 1996.  It is also known as Bourse/Beurs.  From what I have read, the building is set to become Beer Museum/Temple this year or later.

Close to the Bourse is the Eglise Saint Nicholas, one of the oldest Catholic Church in Brussels.  Going farther in are shops and restaurants.  To continue all the way down could lead you to the Royal Gallery,  a shopping arcade and more restaurants. 

The Brussels Town Hall

Just a few more steps, we were at what they call, the Grand Place.  Latter is surrounded by historical buildings, most of them though have been reconstructed.  The Town Hall is the only remaining medieval building.

Looks like the spire is missing ???  Too high! did not make effort to fully capture.  It was shown from afar though, when we were at the Mont des Arts Garden.

House of the Dukes of Brabant (formerly the Bread House

The House of the Dukes of Brabant was formerly a Bread House.  And when the Duke became the King, the building was called the King's House.

Grand Place, Brussels, Belgium

Museum at the City of Brussels at the Grand Place, Brussels, Belgium

The City Museum is located opposite the Town Hall.  It houses the original sculpture of the Manneken Pis.

Manneken Pis in its niche, Brussels, Belgium

Manneken Pis is a small bronze statue of a naked small boy urinating into the basin of the fountain.  The small statue symbolizes the people of Brussels as with sense of humour and broad minded.

Manneken Pis, Brussels, Belgium

The Manneken Pis is dressed up several times a week.  It was on  Hard Rock costume when we were there.

Manneken Pis and a Waffle at the Market Place in Brussels, Belgium

My long lost son...  With the vicinity are chocolate shops and variety of Belgian waffles with toppings

Belgian Waffles in Brussels, Belgium

Sweetiesugarlicious waffles!!!  Among the toppings are caramelized banana, berries, whipped cream, kiwi fruits, nutella, chocolate syrup and maple syrup.



Shame on us if we did not have one. You could choose your own toppings.  Plain waffle was 1 euro.  And additional one euro for each topping.

The market area started to get crowded before noon.

We left this area and check out how did we spend the next two to three hours.

Statue of King Albert I at the Mont des Arts, Brussels, Belgium

My husband's monument (???)  His name engraved on the monument.  The statue is located at the entrance of Mont des Arts.

The statue  depicts the King of the Belgians from 1909 to 1934, King Albert I

Mont des Arts Gardens with the view of the Old England Building and the church of St Jacques- Sur-Coudenberg

Mont des Arts Garden with a view of the spire of the Town Hall

We just crossed the Mont des Arts Garden.  Where did our feet lead us?

The Kuntsberg ended up with a monumental staircase.  Latter was like the gateway to the Museums quarter and Place Royale.

Getting closer at Old England Building now Museum of Musical Instrument and the church of St Jacques- Sur-Coudenberg, a catholic church, at the Place Royale

As we climbed the final step of Monts des Arts staircases, between the buildings of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts and the buildings next to the Museum of the Musical Instruments, a fountain was installed with a sculpture "Swirling Ear/Calder's ear/Whirling ear/ L'Oreille_Tourbillonnante"  by an american artist,  Alexander Calder.  The fountain was previously at the American Pavillon for the World Exhibitions in 1958 and later was offered by the United States to Belgium.

From up there, the spire of the town hall is very much visible.

Buildings next to the former Old England Building in Brussels, Belgium

Former Old England Building, Brussels, Belgium

The former Old England Building now houses the Museum of the Musical Instruments in Brussels.

Church of St Jacques- Sur-Coudenber at Place Royal in  Brussels, Belgium

Dominating the Place Royal is the 18th century neoclassical style Church of St Jacques- Sur-Coudenber.  The church is Catholic, both cathedral and parish.

Interior of the Church of St Jacques- Sur-Coudenber at Place Royal in  Brussels, Belgium

Place Royale, Brussels, Belgium

The building on the left is the Court of Audit of Belgium ( Rekenhof-cour des comptes).  Across the Street of Rue de la Regence is the Royal Museum of Brussels: Museum of Modern Arts, Old Masters Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts.  We missed this beautiful area of Brussels.  The Museum Quarter.  Should we continued walking along Rue de la Regence, next to the Royal Museum is the Sculpture Garden.  The Centuries old Gothic style Catholic church, Eglise Notre Dame du Sablon is few steps from the Garden.  Beautiful Government buildings, Synagogue and the statues of Count Egmont and Hoorn are  along this street also.  Rue de la Regence ends at the building of the Courthouse- Palais de Justice

Place Royale, Brussels, Belgium

Back to the Place Royale...

The building on the left is  the Margritte Museum and on the right is other side of the Museum of Musical Instruments in Brussel. At the middle is the statue of Godfrey of Bouillion, the  leader of the first crusade in 1096.

Rue Royale facing St Mary's Royal Church, Brussels, Belgium

The street of Rue Royale is like the other half of the Rue de la Regence separated by the Place Royale.  We opted to go to this side and we were led to the Royal Palace of Brussels.

Rue Royale facing St Mary's Royal Church, Brussels, Belgium

Rue Royal is a street in Brussel where most of the places of interests are along the street such as the Place Royal and the Brussels Park.

Royal Palace of Brussels, Belgium

The 18th century neoclassoical style  Palace in Brussels is the official Royal Palace of the King and Queen of Belgium.  It is not used as residence though by the Royal family, they live in the outskirt of Brussels instead- Royal Palace of Laeken.

The Royal Palace of Brussels is right in front of the Brussels Park

Brussels Park, Belgium

... exhausted from the few hours of walking...

Galleries Royales Saint-Hubert, Brussels, Belgium

Galleries Royales Saing-Hubert is a shopping arcade at the city centre in Brussels.  We had a late lunch at one of the restaurants.  This place was very busy

ETS P. De Corte is known for its exceptional flavour crispylicious fries.  The store has been in existence for five generations.  It is located at Place Sainte-Catherine

Buildings in the Historic centre in Brussels.

Buildings in the Historic centre in Brussels.

Was this the same area this morning full of tourists?

A bit amazed, my favourite candy bar was a chocolate drink.

Pouty Mouthy dude, what's your name?

We purchased boxes of chocolates before we left Brussels




Given time and budget, I would want to go back to this city and visit one or two museums, especially the Old Masters' and visit the churches.  I want to check out as well other cities such as Antwerp...

One hour and 25 minutes travel from Brussels to Paris by train. We had booked the ticket two months in advanced and chose the cheapest schedule:  depart 11:13 and  to arrive Paris Nord at 12:38.  It cost 22  euros each but we had paid a total of 89.40euros.  Addtional 1.40 euros could be bank charges

continued from Amsterdam
Next station, to PARIS