Summer in the Grand Place, Brussels

 

Lining Brussels' Baroque showpiece, the Grand Place's pavement cafes would make a great spot to while away a lazy summer's afternoon. 

St. Michael & St. Gudula Cathedral, Brussels, Belgium

Work began on the St. Michael & St. Gudula Cathedral in the early 13th century. It took about 300 years to complete this enormous Brabant Gothic construction - its towers are 64 metres tall. The cathedral was finished just before the reign of the emperor Charles V.

Halles Saint-Géry, Brussels

 

An ornate covered market built in 1881 in the Flemish neo-Renaissance style, Halles Saint-Géry now serves as both an impressive exhibition space and a suave night spot. With a high vaulted ceiling and extensive wrought ironwork, the interior is just as handsome as the exterior.

Nero Street Art, Place Saint-Géry, Brussels

 

One of Brussels' many street murals, the comic panel on a wall of Place Saint-Géry depicts Nero trying to feed some birds with the help of other characters also created and drawn by Marc Sleen. Nero, who appeared in a Belgium newspaper for more than 50 years, is one of the country's best known comic book characters. 

La Machine, Pl. Saint-Géry, Brussels

 

A popular drinking den and live music venue, La Machine occupies a charismatic building in the heart of Brussels.

Rue Jules Van Praet, Brussels

 

Toy Soldiers and Lace, Manufacture Belge De Dentelles, Galeries Royales, Brussels

Rue du Marché au Charbon Kolenmarkt, Brussels

 

Street Art, Rue Des Bogards, Brussels

 

Hotel Metropole, Place De Brouckère, Brussels

Still sporting its extraordinary late nineteenth century interior, Hotel Metropole is a throwback to La Belle Époque when Europe literally ruled the world. The grandeur of the reception area, with echoes of the bank that originally occupied this handsome building, will leave you open mouthed, while the creaky cast iron lift will leave you waiting patiently on the ground floor. As you would expect, the bedrooms are decorated in period fashion, complete with chandeliers, fussy wallpaper and velvet-roped curtains. By comparison, the breakfast buffet is a bit prosaic. But the still-magnificent Hotel Metropole is a very memorable place to stay. 8/10

Rue Victor Lefèvre, Brussels

Largely built between 1907 and 1913, and named after a local writer, Rue Victor Lefèvre features a mix of Renaissance, Art Nouveau and Art Deco-style dwellings.

The Arch, Parc du Cinquantenaire, Brussels

The triumphal arch is the centrepiece of a U-shaped complex of nineteenth century buildings in the heart of the 30 hectare Parc du Cinquantenaire. They were built, under the patronage of King Leopold II, for the 1880 National Exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of Belgian independence. The complex now houses a clutch of museums.

Avenue Michel-Ange, Brussels

Lined with cobbled pavements and densely-planted trees, Avenue Michel-Ange is one of Brussels more atmospheric streets.

The Park, Square Marie-Louise, Brussels

Near the centre of Brussels, the park in middle of the elegant Square Marie-Louise is dominated by a small lake with a fountain, an artificial cave and mature trees.

Palais Royal de Bruxelles, Place des Palais, Brussels

Once the home of the Belgian Royal family, the imposing Palais de Bruxelles is now open to the public every summer. Built on the site of the Palace of the Dukes of Brabant, which was destroyed by fire in 1731, the main body of the current building dates from 1820. However, the facade was rebuilt in 1904 by Leopold II in the Louis XVI style, while the side wings date from the 18th century.  The Palace is separated from the Parc de Bruxelles by a wide cobbled street with no road markings, which provides a bumpy ride for cyclists.

Hotel Plasky, Avenue Eugène Plasky, Brussels

Some of the quiet and comfortable rooms on the sixth floor of Hotel Plasky have fine views over the north side of Brussels. In one room, the basic and clinical en-suite bathroom even has its own balcony overlooking the suburbs below.

Charles Buls Fountain, Rue du Marché aux Herbes, Brussels

The Mayor of Brussels at the end of the nineteenth century, Charles Bruls is credited by Wikipedia with protecting Brussels' historic heart from redevelopment by King Leopold II.

Lycée Emile Jacqmain, Rue Béliard, Brussels

Housed in the former Institute of Physiology,  a beautiful building, Lycée Emile Jacqmain is enviably situated on the edge of Leopold Park in Brussels' European district. Its pupils can be seen running around this hilly green space.  In 1927, the building hosted the fifth Solvay Conference, which brought together Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, Marie Curie and more than a dozen other Nobel prize winners to discuss Quantum Theory. 

Edificio - Bibliothèque Solvay, Parc Léopold, Brussels

The stunning interior of this 114-year old building is something of a shock after the fairly restrained stone exterior. Reopened in 1994, after extensive and painstaking restoration work, the centrepiece is a magnificent lecture hall lined with wood panelling, leather bound books, lead-paned windows and intricate wrought iron work, and sheltered by a soaring arched ceiling. Built as the Institute of Sociology and bathed in natural light, the Edificio - Bibliothèque Solvay is a sublime work of art in its own right.

Aux Armes De Bruxelles, rue des Bouchers, Brussels

Photos from Aux Armes de Bruxelles' web sites

One of a string of restaurants in the back streets near the Grand Place, Aux Armes De Bruxelles serves up traditional Belgian dishes to the tourists and business travellers thronging around this part of the city. The ambiance is fairly formal - with lead panes, stain glass windows, wood panelling and old-fashioned lighting and lampshades. The sea-food heavy menu features oysters and lobster, plus a good selection of starters, as well as meat and fish main courses, ranging from 18 euros to 55 euros. While you are choosing, the waiter will offer you a decent bread roll. To start, the herring marinated in white wine (about 10 euros) is fresh and tangy - it really teases the palate. It is smartly-presented, but you don't get a great deal of fish and the dish is padded out with salad and a pile of coleslaw. Among the main courses, the sirloin steak (about 25 euros) is a good choice. You get a big chunk of juicy meat, while the béarnaise sauce on the side is lovely. The steak comes with a small bowl of fat chips.. Service by the polite waiters is polished and attentive. Aux Armes De Bruxelles isn't cheap, but it does offer a fine taste of Belgian cuisine. 8/10