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What makes Brussels special? Great seafood in great restaurants, the
smell of hot waffles on a cold winter's day, cafes and pubs that never
close, the cosmopolitan but neighbourly feel, forests practically on the
doorstep, pheasant and truffles in autumn, comic strips, designer shops...
The city's character largely mirrors that of Belgium: confident but
modest, and rarely striving to impress. For visitors, it's full of delights
- Grand Place, mussels with chips, pralines, uncrowded museums, intimate
hotels, Art Nouveau, Horta, Tintin and unbelievable beers.
Brussels is more than a 1000 years old. Today the name Brussels stands
for an agglomeration of 19 communes forming one of the three Regions of the
federal Belgian state; the capital of the Kingdom of Belgium; the
headquarters of the French and Flemish Communities. Brussels also has an
important international vocation : as the European capital the city is home
to the European Commission and to the Council of ministers of the European
Union (EU).
Brussels is the bilingual capital of Belgium. This means that both French
and Dutch are the official languages of the city. Street names and traffic
sings are always in these two languages. Furthermore, it is a cosmopolitan
city where many different cultures live together and where different
languages can be heard on each street. This liveliness and international
flair is, of course, intimately related to its role as a crossroads for all
of Europe.
The same variety and contrast can also be found in the different
architectural styles that can be found in Brussels, the former capital of
the medieval Duchy of Brabant. Gothic cathedrals and churches are next to -
and sometimes in stark contrast with - gracious classical facades like the
buildings around the Royal Square (Place Royale - Koningsplein), or
beautiful art nouveau and art deco houses.
The heart of Brussels and the place to start getting to know the city is
the Grand'Place (Grote Markt). This historic market square with its splendid
guild houses and the impressive Gothic beauty of the Town Hall, is widely
considered to be one of the most beautiful town squares in Europe.
Orientation
Central Brussels is divided into two main areas, the Lower and Upper
Towns. The Lower Town comprises the medieval city centre, built around the
imposing Grand Place, a former market square. The area is easy to get around
on foot, its cobbled streets leading to popular quarters such as Ilôt Sacré,
Ste Catherine, St Géry and Marolles.
The Upper Town, to the southeast, has a vastly different atmosphere. The
traditional base of Brussels' French-speaking elite, it's home to wide
boulevards, major museums, chic shopping areas around Sablon and Ave Louise,
and monumental buildings including the Belgian parliament.
Most of Brussels proper is surrounded by a motorway - the Petit Ring -
but there are interesting sites beyond the centre. The glass-and-steel EU
quarter is bordered by the trendy Ixelles district, known for its many Art
Nouveau buildings. To the north, the Domaine Royale is the residence of
Belgium's royal family.
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The city of choice for Eurocrats, Brussels is sumptuous, historic and
luxuriously cosy. With artistry richer than chocolate, architecture as
graceful as its cuisine and diversity frothier than the beer, Brussels is an
heirloom of northern culture at its best. 
Brussels
City Tour
Vendome
Hotel Brussels