"Brussel - Bruxelles - Brussels" Brussels by speed4turtles

Brussels Travel Guide: 5,564 reviews and 11,821 photos

st Michiels Cathedral

Before we start " Welcome ".
Let me remind you that my normal tongue is Dutch and at the time i was going to school we must learn French as second language.
So please, If i do or write something wrong, forgive me

Officially, Brussels was founded in the year 979. But legends and non-confirmed stories let us suppose that the origin of the city has to be situated at the end of the 6th century. It was then that the Preacher Saint Gorik built a little chapel on a small island formed by two arms of the Zenne, the river that still is part of Brussels. First written confirmation of the existence of Brussels is given in the year 977, when the German emperor Otto 2nd gives Low-Lorraine to Carl of France. In those days the island was known as the Island of Saint-Gorik. Carl of France decides to build a castrum (= a sort of fortress) on the island: Brussels is born. At the end of the 10th century, after the death of Carl, Low-Lorraine is taken over by Lambert of Leuven. In the middle of the 11th century Lambert 2nd Baldric decides to build a new castrum at Brussels. He also starts building the first city walls

The Basilica of Koekelberg

When standing on one of the hills surrounding the center of Brussels, one can always see the dome of the Basilica in Western direction.

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart (situated in the Suburb of Koekelberg) is labeled "the national Basilica of Belgium". It was built to remember the 75th anniversary of the Belgian independence.

In 1905 king Leopold II laid the first stone. According to the plans of architect LANGEROCK it was to become a gigantic neo-gothic church. The initial plans were stopped at the beginning of World War I. Only in 1919 the construction would continue. However, by then the developers had changed their plans and architect. A new architect, called VAN NUFFEL, was asked to construct a modern prayerhouse. To the people of Brussels and Belgium it seemed that the Basilica would never be finished. Moreover, the construction of the church depended entirely on donations made by believers and these donations did not always yield the expected funds. The church was eventually finished in the late 1960's with the construction of a dome and dedicated to the war victories of 1918 and 1944.

The market square

"One of the most beautiful town squares in Europe, if not in the world", is a phrase often heard when visitors in Brussels try to describe the beauty of the central market square. French-speakers refer to it as the 'Grand-Place', whereas in Dutch it is called 'de grote Markt'. The tourists of the 20th century are not alone in their admiration . Archduchess Isabella, daughter of Filip II of Spain wrote about the square during her visit to Brussels on September the 5th 1599: " Never have I seen something so beautiful and exquisite as the town square of the city where the town hall rises up into the sky. The decoration of the houses is most remarkable ".

  • Intro Updated Oct 31, 2003
  • Add to Trip Planner (?)
  • Report Abuse

Reviews (27)

Comments (1)

  • Aug 25, 2003 at 5:43 AM

    Excellant information....Good coverage and nice phtographs to supplement the information..

speed4turtles

“what you see is not always what you get”

Online Now

Female

Top 5,000 Travel Writer
Member Rank:
0 1 6 4 3

Badges & Stats in Brussels

  • 27 Reviews
  • 30 Photos
  • 0 Forum posts
  • 1 Comments
  • 1,219PageViews

Have you been to Brussels?

  Share Your Travels  

Latest Activity in Brussels

Friends

No friends yet.

Latest Brussels hotel reviews

Renaissance Brussels
507 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 14, 2013
Van Belle Hotel Brussels
169 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 14, 2013
Wellness Apart Hotel
11 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 12, 2013
Leopold Brussels Hotel
197 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 16, 2013
President Nord Hotel
133 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 14, 2013
Maison Du Dragon
12 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Nov 6, 2012
Adagio Brussels Centre Monnaie
116 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 16, 2013
Pacific Cafe Hotel
101 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 24, 2013
Best Western City Centre
64 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 9, 2013
Hotel Orts
46 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 13, 2013
Azimuth Flathotel
29 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 17, 2013
ApartmentsApart Brussels
121 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 15, 2013
Marriott Hotel Brussels
764 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 17, 2013
European Quarter - Marriott Executive Apartments
68 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 15, 2013