Brussels Off The Beaten Path Tips by Maria81

Sablon Garden Parcs & Gardens Review

Where?

Close to the Place du Grand Sablon, across the road from Church Notre Dame du Sablon

What?

The garden is in Place du Petit Sablon, and is fairly small but features about 50 sculptures each depicting a different profession practiced in the Middle Ages. A larger monument to Counts Hoorn and Egmont forms the centrepiece of the garden.

N. Dame de Chapelle Church

Where?

Rue des Ursulines, near the Breugel Museum

What?

Notre Dame de Chapelle Church is Brussels' oldest, dating back to 1134. An imposing church with a sipre, it is a fine example of the Romanesque Gothic style. Inside, there is a chapel dedicated to the painter Peter Breugel, who lived in Rue Haute close by.

Zinneke Pis

Where?

On the corner of Rue de Vieux Marche aux Grains and Rue des Chartreux

What?

Right, you'd think the Manneken Pis and Jaenneke Pis would be enough :) In recent years, the Zinneke Pis joined the statue collection. Placed right on the pavement, it's a fountain of a dog of an unknown breed lifting it's hind leg over something resembilng a fire hydrand, only a green one.

St. Catherine Church

Where?

In Place Sainte Catherine

What?

On the outside, the church may not be as spectacular as some of Brussels' grander buildings, nor is it particularly old, having been built in the 19th century.

Inside, there is a fine 15th century statue of Madonna and Child, which is a real survivor. It has been drowned by the Protestants in the 18th century, but then fished back out again by the citizenry to take its proper place in the church.

Equal rights? Jeanneken Pis Review

Where?

Go to the dead-end in Impasse de la Fidelite, which is off the Rue des Bouchers

What?

Jaenneke Pis is a much more recent addition, dating back only to 1985. The statue shows a little girl squatting. I have read in my trusty guidebook that the statue/fountain has been erected by Debouvrie 'in honour of loyalty' but this is something I am really not sure about :)

The Comic Strip

Where?

Over a ca. 4-mile circuit around the city, with some of the comics fairly close to Grand Place. There are maps for sale for the circuit

What?

The comic strip is a series of colourful murals on some of the city's facades. Walking along the circuit will definitely take you to places tourists rarely visit, and as such it is a good opportunity to see what else there is to Brussels, other than Grand Place and Manneken Pis.