"Brussels, THE European capitol" a Brussels Travel Page by Pavlik_NL

Brussels d.B. (district of Belgium), it can now-a-days be called. The European capitol in the centre of the European Community has however much more then the Euro-neighborhood full of high officebuildings and the European parlement. The town has a rich and moving history as the country has been a battlefield between many nations on the old continent.

Brussel, in the old days the capitol of Bourgondian Brabant. Later the most important town of the (Spanish) Lowlands and again a few centuries later the capitol that linked the so devided Belgium (Dutch-speaking Flandres and French-speaking Wallonie). Maybe that's why the atmosphere in Brussels can be called international, although the look of the (old) town is so typically Lowland (especially the Marketsquare).

When you're going to visit the Market in the centre, beware. It's beauty will put many other squares in the world permanently in the shadow. The magnificent cityhall and beautiful patrician-houses will amaze you and you can spend hours walking around.
A few blocks further, you'll meet the most famous boy of Belgium: Manneke Pis. many stories are going about this legendary kid, but no-one knows whats true and what not.

Brussels is also the place for enjoying the Bourgondian style of eating. Deliscious is here still not the word to be used as it is not good enough for the tasty menu's you can enjoy here. Especially in the little alleys around the Marketsquare you can find many restaurants that will serve you the finest courses.

Furthermore in the centre you can make long walks along many historical places. The shoppingstreets, with as highlight the first shopping-arcade in the world: Saint Hubert-galery. The churches of Saint Michel & Saint Goedele or the little Zavel, with the peaceful green place next to it, that reminds one of the blackest moments in Lowlands-history. The huge Palace of Justice (one of the largest classic buildings in the world, however holding the largest doors). On top of this all one should not forget the Royal Palace and it's park. A place where one can enjoy the wealth of the King's of Belgium as well as the peace of the green lanes.

North of the centre is Bruell-parc. Here is the famous Atomium and many other attractions of Brussels. A huge cinema, various exhibitionhalls (with various temporare exhibitions) and mini-Europe, all famous buildings of Europe built in scale.