Belgium - art and history
No European tour would be complete without a visit to Belgium – a country which lies at the cultural and linguistic boundary between the Germanic and Latin parts of Europe, with the north of the country composed of the Dutch-speaking Flanders, the south of Belgium being French-speaking Wallonia, and the capital area of Brussels being bilingual.
In Brussels the bilingualism is evident, as all places, including the subway stations, have a French name and a Flemish (Dutch) name. There is much to see, such as the Grand Place/Grote Markt, the central market square with its Gothic town hall and superb Baroque guildhouses. There are the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium with works by Pieter Bruegel, Rubens, Magritte, and many other artists of renown.
Now designated a World Heritage Site is the wonderful city of Bruges in West Flanders with its awe inspiring medieval architecture, its majestic Market Square with Belfry and City Hall, its stunning canals and waterways, its lace shops, and comfortable and stylish cafes. Bruges is relaxing and serene, and has more of the feel of a town than a city.
Ghent, in East Flanders, is a port, and also has a university, meaning that it has a significant young and upbeat population. It has many cobbled streets, and the cars make a distinctinve rumbling sound as they move through this bustling city. Here you can see Saint Bavo Cathedral with its paintings by Hubert and Jan van Eyck, and works by Rubens. The impressive Gravensteen Castle, dating back to the Middle Ages, is in the town center, and when you need a rest from your sightseeing don’t forget to head over to Sleepstraat, where all the students go to eat, a mere stone’s throw from Gravensteen, for some delicious pizza and salad.
Famous for its diamond industry, you may well also want to visit Antwerp, which also boasts some fantastic medieval architecture, and the wonderful Rubens House Museum.
Filed under: Belgium
