Cultural sightseeing in Belgium. What to visit - museums, temples, castles and palaces

Belgium could not avoid such fashionable directions as design hotels. Modern fashion trends can be traced in a number of hotels offering their guests …
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The capital of the European Union simply cannot afford not to have luxury hotels in its own square, especially considering the constant influx of …
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The Belgians, living in a country rich in history, not only maintain their own history but also try to extract a lot of benefits from it. Historical …
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Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in Belgium
Reference information
Art galleries in Belgium
♥ Art museum 'Cinquantenaire Museum' Brussels. On the map
Photos
♥ Art museum 'Groeningemuseum' Bruges. On the map
Photos
♥ Art museum 'Horta Museum' Brussels. On the map
Photos
♥ Art museum 'Museum Mayer van den Bergh' Antwerp. On the map
Photos
♥ Art museum 'Museum of Fine Arts' Ghent. On the map
Photos
♥ Art museum 'Cinquantenaire Museum' Brussels. On the map


♥ Art museum 'Groeningemuseum' Bruges. On the map


♥ Art museum 'Horta Museum' Brussels. On the map


♥ Art museum 'Museum Mayer van den Bergh' Antwerp. On the map


♥ Art museum 'Museum of Fine Arts' Ghent. On the map


Cathedrals and basilicas in Belgium
♥ Basilique Saint-Materne, Walcourt. On the map
Photos
♥ Basilique-Abbatiale Saint-Benoît de Maredsous, Anhée. On the map
Photos
♥ Basilique abbatiale Notre-Dame de Bonne-Espérance, Vellereille-les-Brayeux. On the map
Photos
♥ Cathédrale Saint-Aubain, Namur. On the map
Photos
♥ Basilique Notre-Dame de Bonsecours, Bon-Secours. On the map
Photos
♥ Sanctuaire de Notre-Dame de Banneux, Banneux. On the map
Photos
♥ Basilique Notre-Dame de Tongre, Tongre-Notre-Dame. On the map
Photos
♥ Basilique Saint-Materne, Walcourt. On the map


♥ Basilique-Abbatiale Saint-Benoît de Maredsous, Anhée. On the map


♥ Basilique abbatiale Notre-Dame de Bonne-Espérance, Vellereille-les-Brayeux. On the map


♥ Cathédrale Saint-Aubain, Namur. On the map


♥ Basilique Notre-Dame de Bonsecours, Bon-Secours. On the map


♥ Sanctuaire de Notre-Dame de Banneux, Banneux. On the map


♥ Basilique Notre-Dame de Tongre, Tongre-Notre-Dame. On the map


Palaces in Belgium
♥ Palace 'Egmont Palace' Brussels. On the map
Photos
♥ Palace 'Royal Castle of Laeken' Brussels. On the map
Photos
♥ Palace 'Royal Palace of Antwerp' Antwerp. On the map
Photos
♥ Palace 'Royal Palace of Belgium' Brussels. On the map
Photos
♥ Palace 'Egmont Palace' Brussels. On the map


♥ Palace 'Royal Castle of Laeken' Brussels. On the map


♥ Palace 'Royal Palace of Antwerp' Antwerp. On the map


♥ Palace 'Royal Palace of Belgium' Brussels. On the map


Extreme Guinness-type places in Belgium
Central Station Antwerp
From the series “Top 14 Most Astonishing Railway Stations in the World”
The famous architect Louis Dela censerie has built this marvellous railway station. Today the station's building impresses not only with its exterior but also with the interior. In the building has been saved an adorable cupola like celling. It is decorated with the paintings and outstanding leaded panels. Wide marble … Read all
Brugge
From the series “The Last City-Fortresses Survived to This Day”
Many excursions begin from the Markt Square. Several historical objects are situated right near it. For example: the guard tower Belfort. It’s 83 meters high and dated from 1240 year. The town is also known thanks to its cultural centers. There has placed the world-known Groeninge museum, which has an extensive collection of medieval and early modern art, including … Read all

Top cultural sites of Belgium: monuments, theaters and churches
Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Brussels
Location on the map:
Interesting facts:
» The Catholic Basilica of the Sacred Heart is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was inspired by the eponymous basilica in Paris. 
» This shrine is the sixth area of the Roman Catholic Church in the world.
» The church is the large structure with two towers and a green copper dome towering 89 meters above the ground. The length of the building is almost 165 meters.
» In total the church can accommodate up to 2,000 people.
» The basilica houses a restaurant, a Catholic radio station, theater, two museums, and a place of training cavers and climbers.
Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Brugge

» The cathedral is famous for its luxury interior, many religious relics and pieces of art.
» The walls of the cathedral are decorated with Brussels canvasses of the 18th century and multicolored paintings of the 19th century. Due to them, the cathedral looks festive.
» In the cathedral, there is a museum where you can see such precious artifacts, as “The Death of Hippolytus”, a triptych created by Dirk Bouts and Hugo van der Goes in 1470, and the painting “Golgotha”, one of the oldest canvasses in Brugge.
» The organ in the cathedral is the oldest in the country. It was created in the baroque style in 1717.
Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, Brussels
Location on the map:
Interesting facts:
» The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula is one of the main attractions of Brussels, and the clearest example of Gothic architecture. 
» The building of the cathedral is a symmetrical composition with two towers, within which there is a long staircase opening onto the terrace that is 64 meters high. The terrace offers a magnificent view of the city.
» The Cathedral has four doors decorated with wrought-reliefs and statues of saints. There is a huge stained glass above the main entrance.
» Stained glasses decorating the cathedral were created in the 16th century by Jan Haq and in 18-19th century by Jean-Baptiste Kaproner.
» The cathedral houses the mausoleum of the Belgian national hero Frederic de Merode.
Chapel Church, Brussels
Location on the map:
Interesting facts:
» The Chapel Church is one of the oldest churches in Brussels, the first mention of which dates back to 1134 year. During its long history the church has undergone many changes; it has repeatedly been destroyed and rebuilt. 
» There are graves of local nobility and famous people inside the church.
» Nowadays, the Chapel Church is the parish church of the Polish Catholic community in Brussels.
» You can see the entire collection of paintings, sculptures and stained glass inside the temple.
» The church regularly hosts a variety of concerts. It’s open to visitors all year round.
Church of Our Blessed Lady, Brussels

» The Church was built in the period from 1400 to 1594. It’s located near Small Sablon Park that was laid in honor of the great men of the sixteenth century.
» The church building is decorated with beautiful stained glass windows; bright interior lighting is turned on in the night.
» Since its construction in 1784, the church has being serving as the burial place for noble aristocratic families.
» The church is famous for its numerous sculptures adorning the facade of the building, its grounds and interior.
Church of Our Lady, Brugge
Location on the map:
Interesting facts:
» The Church of Our Lady is a construction that features the combination of Gothic and Roman styles. 
» The construction lasted over 2 years and was completed in the 13th century.
» In the spacious church with a 122-meter tower, the only sculpture of Michelangelo, “The Virgin Mary with the Baby”, is kept.
» Some windows of the church have the shape of a Reuleaux triangle. Such windows are quite rare.
» The church is famous for the fact that the wife of Maximilian I Mary of Burgundy who lived a short life was buried here. The emperor loved his wife very much and called her the most beautiful woman in the world.
Church of Saint-Jean, Liege
Location on the map:
Interesting facts:
» The octagonal church of St. Jean looks bleak and strict. 
» The church is named Saint-Jean-en-Lille, which means “a temple on the island”). The first building was built on the plot surrounded by water.
» The founder of the church was Bishop Notger. The bishop expressed his gratitude to God for assistance in captivating the Chevremon Fortress. The warrior found rest here. The tomb with his relics was lost due to the overflow of the river. The sarcophagus of the leader was restored but his remnants were not found. The flood gave an impetus to the building reconstruction.
» Italian and Liege architects worked on the project. Only a bell tower built in the Roman style has survived.
» At the Saint-Jean-en-Lille, pieces of sacred art are kept: the wooden sculpture of Apostle John and the Mother of God with a baby (1230), paintings from the Late Middle Ages, a carved cross, and wooden lockets depicting St. Paul and Peter. On the altar, there is the preserved gospel dating back to 1564.
» The interior is distinguished by stained glass windows of the 16th century, furniture on the baroque style, and a carved Gothic vault.
Church of St. Bartholomew, Liege
Location on the map:
Interesting facts:
» The Church of St. Bartholomew attracts with its exterior. Vertical ledges of red columns contrast with the background of the white sandstone walls. 
» A lot of pilgrims following the road of St. Jacob visited the church.
» The unfinished building was blessed when the foundation was laid.
» The Church of St. Bartholomew built in the Roman style is located beyond the city.
» There are two similar bell towers at the sides of the church.
» In the hall, you can see paintings by eminent artists. The main theme of canvasses is the glorification of Jesus.
» You can also see a brass bowl here. A font was built in the 12th century. The bowl is installed on the backs of bulls. There were 12 statues of animals but two of them have been lost. These bulls represent twelve followers of Christ. The walls of the font are decorated with five relief paintings depicting scenes from the life of celestial beings. The fineness of details really impresses. The font is placed on a pedestal in a separate room.
» The restoration of the building lasted 7 years and was completed in 2006. The colorful ornament on painted walls was renovated. It had to change 10 000 tiles.
Culture and monuments in popular cities of Belgium
Travellers will get introduced with the history of the city in Civic Museum, the collections of which include numerous historical artifacts and art objects. The museum is located in a beautiful historical building that features Gothic Revival style. Young visitors will also find much interesting in visiting another cultural institution - Museum of Natural Science. Among the exhibits of this place you will find rarest dinosaur skeletons. According to archaeologists, the age of some of them is … Read more

There are also natural attractions in Bruges. Minnewater Lake is one of them. It is considered the most romantic place in the city, and so many interesting superstitions and legends are connected with it. On evenings you can see many romantic couples on the lake who come here to admire the sunset and enjoy the intimate atmosphere. Among the major attractions of the city is also the bell tower of Church of Notre-Dame, which height estimates 122 meters. The bell tower is made in the Gothic style. … Read more

You should definitely visit Plantin-Moretus Museum, the collection of which is devoted to the history of typography. The museum contains a large library, which stores copies of rare and old books. The halls of the museum are decorated with exquisite decor items, many of which have a long history of more than one hundred years. Museum of Diamonds is, without a doubt, no less interesting. The treasury of the museum stores priceless jewelry. Some of the masterpieces were created by goldsmiths in … Read more

The Sint-Pieters-Leeuw Tower (Sint-Pieterstoren) is a landmark of the earlier period. The construction is mostly known under nickname of “caster”. The tower is the only element of the church built in the 15th century which has survived till nowadays. The most remarkable fact about the church is that in the course of five hundred years of history the tower has not changed and still appears in its initial look. In the course of its long history the tower has not been restored or reconstructed … Read more

Belfry is one of the main sights of Ghent and a true symbol of prosperity and independence. The height of the bell tower estimates 91 meters. The construction of the old tower was completed in 1338 and lasted more than 30 years. Korenlei embankment is a great place for evening walks. You will see many beautiful old mansions as you walk down it. Among the religious attractions of the city we should definitely mention Saint Bavo Cathedral, in which has survived an ancient tomb made in the … Read more

Each spring has its interesting history. For instance, in the middle of the 17th century Source de la Géronstère was constructed on donations of the Burgsdorf count. The count spent several months at the resort and was healed from few diseases. The luxurious pavilion built on his funds became the best gratitude to the welcoming resort. One of the very interesting historical monuments is Pouhon Prince de Condé. It was found by the local pharmacist in his own cellar in 1863. This … Read more

The significant landmark of Liege is the Town Hall which was built in the beginning of the 18th century. The fronton of the building presents the Liege emblem and the entrance of the Town Hall is beset with a magnificent memorial tablet. The tablet is put to commemorate Commissar Maigret who was born and lived in Liege. The most unusual and attracting sight of the city is of course the Perron colonnade. Up to 1697 a huge column, which later turned to a part of the fountain, stood on this place. … Read more

In a short walk from the square there is a symbolic landmark - Begijnhof St. Elizabeth founded in the mid-13th century. Up until the late 17th century architectural complex has being continuously changing its appearance. It was rebuilt and supplemented by new buildings. Visitors are invited to visit the most beautiful buildings and rooms where state receptions took place a few centuries ago. There is also a museum there, which collection is devoted to the history of the architectural complex. … Read more
