As far as Brussels is concerned, it comes with chocolate, waffles, beer, mussel-potatoes and the European Union. One of the surprising cities of Europe is the capital city of Belgium, the stone streets challenging Tarihe, the architectural and artistic richness with its medieval traces, the charming houses with steep roofs, hundreds of different kinds of beauties, lacework, delightful channels and many other comic strips, especially Tin Tin .
From the outside it may look a bit serious, cold and colorless, not like Paris or Barcelona in terms of vitality and diversity, but it is a city that will be able to surprise you with its cool character as time goes by.
Center of Europe: Brussels
Leave the bureaucratic label misconceptions about Brussels, whose population is slightly more than a billion, on one side. One in four of the population of the city, which is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, is made up of strangers. The three main institutions of the European Union, the EU Commission, the EU Ministers' Council and the European Parliament, as well as the administrative center for NATO and several international organizations, are in this city.
You can see multiculturalism and its internalization all over the city. Only half of the aftermath of the fusion of French and Flemish cultures is truly Belgian. Almost everywhere the bilingual structure comes out against you. In everyday life, you are more likely to use French while the other official language is Dutch. Well spoken in English and even in German.
Although it means 'the place in the bog', it is actually a complete oasis of culture, education, trade, science and industry in Brussels, Belgium. Having entered a rapid urbanization process since the 11th century, Brussels has become one of Europe's most vibrant trade spots with Paris and Venice. Many buildings built in the 15th century are still standing on the streets of the city with traces of different architectural movements.
More than you expect
The city center of Brussels is divided into Lower and Upper City. Thanks to the advanced public transport system, the city can be easily visited with a very affordable budget.
The world famous Grand Place Square is the heart of Brussels. Surrounded by the magnificent Grand Place, the Lower City has a medieval atmosphere with its narrow, history-lined streets tiled with wide open paving stones. It's easy to find these in the narrow streets of Grand Place. One of the most beautiful squares in the world and restaurants, it is very easy to reach the boutiques by foot each time. Grand Place, a beautiful square with stylish guild houses, is one of the fascinating attractions of Brussels. Chocolates, famous restaurants and eye-catching architectural structures lined up around the square are impressive.
The UNESCO World Heritage List is also the venue for the annual Flower Carpet Festival, which is held every two years. In the festival, which took place in 1971, a carpet pattern was created by using 700 thousand begonia flowers in the square of 2 thousand square meters. The challenge of experiencing a visual feast during the festival is a visit to the city.
The City Hall (Hotel de Ville) and the Brussels Museum in the square are worth seeing. In the street next to the square of Manneken Pis, the most important symbol of the city. The sculpture, 61 cm in height, wears different outfits for the period.
One of the most important aspects of Brussels is the hosting of the most beautiful works of the Art Nouveau movement, where elegant decorative ornaments are used. The Center Belge de la Bande is a museum known as Dessinee, a museum built by Victor Horta, the father of Art Nouveau, Gaudi of Belgium. The local architect can participate in the 3 hour tours guided by the designers to get detailed information on these unique works. The historic buildings surrounding the Place du Grand Sablon, luxury shops and antique shops, St. Catherine Church, St. Michel Cathedral and the Notre Dame du Sablon Church are among the places to be seen.
Built for the EXPO in Brussels in 1958, the 102-meter-high Atomium is one of the symbols of the city. Prepared to be displayed for only 6 months during the EXPO, the Atomium became one of the city's attraction centers, just like the Eiffel Tower.
Mini Europe, one of the most famous miniature parks in Europe, has more than 350 miniature buildings. The park has minimal forms of famous buildings in European cities and is also a pleasant route for families with children.
To see European architecture closely and feel the atmosphere in the Benelux countries, the Royal Place of Belgium (Place Royal) is the right choice. The federal parliament building is located in the palace, which coexists with Brussels Park, the city's largest green area.
The Musical Instrument Museum of Brussels, where more than 9 musical instruments can be seen, is a pleasant route to travel to the history of music. The museum is home to some of the most beautiful museums in the city, with musical instruments dating back to the 16th century and special collections.
The Belgian Royal Military History Museum, where war planes, tanks, weapons and war materials from the Second World War are exhibited, must be visited to witness the memories of the war period.
Brussels delicacies
In this city, where the number of restaurants per person is falling in Europe, the eating and drinking habits that are shaped by the presence of a foreign population and the influence of different cultures are discovered in more than 2 restaurants across the city.
The Rue Saint Boniface region is the preferred choice for those who want to dine in a warm and friendly atmosphere across the street. Those who want to see different examples of the world cuisines are surely going to Place du Chatelain and the ones who want to experience street tastes are going to Place Stephanie.
One of the characteristics of Belgium's colonial past in Africa is the Belgian chocolate. Tasty chocolates that have come to life with the processing of cocoa beans imported from Africa are world famous.
The Belgian waffle, which is served differently than the waffle which is consumed well in Turkey; dried nuts, powdered sugar, chocolate sauce or ice cream. It is possible to find waffles, which are consumed in bigger and crunchy pieces, on almost every street in Brussels.
For those who are not marine and marine, Brussels is literally a paradise. You can sit and feast at restaurants where the world's tastiest mussels are served. Sablon Square is frequented by both tourists and Brussels. It is also a good place to eat Belgian mussels and French fries. The restaurants at the back of the Grand Place are reminiscent of the Çiçek Pasajı in Istanbul. Try Chez Vincent or Chez Leon de Bruxelles to eat seafood at Ste-Catherine.
Between hundreds of restaurants where thousands of fish, lobsters, pavrurians and oysters are exhibited in display cases. While passing through the King's Gallery from the Queen's Gallery, the oldest and most magnificent passage in the continent is the Aux Armes de Bruxelles restaurant, defeat the girl's hat that performs Bach. Do not miss the avenues that your aesthetic reaches.
Belgium means beer, it is not possible to try all varieties in one's motherland. For this you have to stay in this mysterious city for months. Because there are more than 500 kinds of beer in the city. In the world, the first French fries known as 'French fries' are produced in Brussels. There are a lot of people eating potatoes on the streets that are decorated with the unique smell of the new fried potato. Golden yellow potato fries enriched with different sauces must be tried with local beauties. Do not forget to try the mussels, which come to mind first in Belgium, with boiled onions and celery stalks.
Chocolate, lace, comic book ...
Any product that can come to mind in the city where many famous brands of shops are located can be easily found. Belgian chocolate, lace varieties, local beings, crystal objects, antique pieces, comics and bibles are among the first to come to mind if you are considering buying something with a local characteristic.
Shopping-intensive streets include Rue Neuve, Avenue Louise, Boulevard de Wataerloo, Rue Antoine Dansaert, Rue de Namur and Grand Place. Stop by Pierre Marcolini to pick up some chocolate at the Stablon Square, the antique center of the city. Leonidas, founded in 1857 Neuhaus and Wittamer, other famous chocolate brands of the city.
Take a break in Wittamer, one of Europe's most popular antique markets, and sip tea or coffee. There are two options for shopping at factory outlets: Go to the Maasmechelen Shopping Village, 80 miles away from the city. Roermond, which is twice as large as Maasmechelen in the Netherlands, 14 kilometers away, is open until 19.00, Sunday.
In the shadow of the beautiful and popular cities around Brussels, Brussels deserves to be among the most curious destinations in Europe, with beautiful architectural structures, medieval breezy streets, dizzying tastes and places to see. At the very least, take a week's escape and include it in your list to get European air, this beautiful city full of surprises!