According to master Victor Hugo, the Grand Place surpasses in beauty all the central squares of European capitals. This picturesque place has existed since the XII century. Markets were noisy here, important public meetings were held, and the fate of the city was being decided. Active construction of the square began in the XV century. For several centuries, the Grand Place has been surrounded by real architectural masterpieces: the Town Hall, the Bread House, fountains, houses of trade guilds.

The modern monument is a model of a molecule magnified several billion times. The height of the structure is more than 100 meters, the diameter of the atoms is 18 meters. Giant atoms are connected by pipes, inside of which there are corridors and passages. Tourists can climb to the observation deck of the Atomium or visit the restaurant located inside the molecule. The monument was erected in 1958 for the opening of the next World Exhibition of Achievements.

An elegant, "airy" and elegant building in the late Gothic style, adorning the Belgian capital. The town Hall began to be built at the beginning of the XV century. According to the idea of the authors of the project, the future house of the city council was supposed to symbolize the power and importance of Brussels as an important commercial capital. The architects managed to realize their idea, and now the town hall is one of the most beautiful buildings in Brussels.

The building of the XIII century in the Gothic style, another pearl of the central Grand Place. The building seems to be woven from lace, its graceful arches and spans create a feeling of flight and aspiration upward. Initially, the Bread House was used as a warehouse for bread, then it was a prison, and then it turned into a customs house. As a result, the family of the Duke of Brabant moved here. Nowadays, the building houses the Brussels Museum, famous for paintings by famous artists.

The urban area that appeared on the map of Brussels in the middle of the XX century. Previously, there was an uninhabited wasteland in its place. Over time, the area turned into a cultural center of the Belgian capital. There are many buildings built in a neoclassical and postmodern manner. Many famous museums are concentrated in the area, picturesque parks are laid out and convenient viewing platforms are equipped.

The current residence of the Belgian kings, open to the public during the absence of the royal family (in fact, they practically never visit this place). The palace is located in the city center next to the historical squares and the city park. The modern building appeared at the end of the XVIII century, the facade was modernized in 1904.

In this mansion in the north of Brussels, the royal family really lives, while the Royal Palace is just a formal residence. The Lakensky Palace was built at the end of the XVIII century. There is a landscaped park with greenhouses around it, which is always full of tourists. The place became a royal residence only at the beginning of the XX century.

An unusual palace of the beginning of the XX century, built for the railway engineer A. Stokle. The structure was designed by J. Hoffman, a representative of the Vienna Secession school. This architectural style stands at the junction of Modernism, Art Deco and Art Nouveau. The palace is a UNESCO monument, but it is closed to the public, as it belongs to the descendants of Stokle.

A monumental structure the size of a city block. For its incredible size, the locals nicknamed it "mammoth". Pompous Greco-Roman architecture and gilded statues adorning the facade look a little ridiculous and even frightening. The palace is located on an area of 30.6 thousand m2, the height of the building reaches 122 meters. In huge halls and numerous passages, the visitor may even get lost.

The building of the late XIX century, located on the site of a former Franciscan monastery. Neo-Renaissance and Empire style prevail in architecture. The interior space of the exchange is distinguished by splendor, famous Belgian masters worked on the decor. The Brussels Stock Exchange appeared at the beginning of the XIX century by decree of Napoleon Bonaparte, now it is a pan-European exchange platform.

An impressive structure of modern architecture made of glass and steel. According to the architects' idea, it had to look "unfinished", since not all the countries of geographical Europe have united in the EU yet. The European Parliament, the main supranational legislative body of the European Union, sits inside. You can go to the building with an excursion or individually and watch the meeting of MEPs.

A small fountain that has been decorating the Belgian capital for several centuries. Over the years, it has become the most recognizable symbol of Brussels. Unfortunately, there is no exact documentary evidence of where this fountain came from, but researchers agree that it was created at the end of the XIV century. The figure of a Pissing boy symbolizes the humorous and freedom-loving spirit of the Belgians.

The sculpture "Pissing Girl" is also a fountain. This is a modern composition from 1987. According to one version, the girl's figure appeared thanks to a local restaurateur Debuvri, who was offended for women. The injustice was that "There is a pissing boy," but the girls are not. With the advent of the fountain, both sexes were equalized in their rights.

The Cathedral of the XIII century, reminiscent of the French Notre-Dame de Paris. The writer V. Hugo considered it the only real Gothic temple. The influence of three styles is noticeable in architecture: Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance. The cathedral was built on the site of a church of the XI century (its ruins can be seen through openings in the floor). The interior was created over several centuries and bears the imprints of different eras.

The temple was erected in honor of the 75th anniversary of the independence of Belgium. Construction dragged on for 60 years, and was completed by 1969. The basilica is built in the Art Deco style, it is one of the ten largest Christian churches in the world. The building is used not only for church services. On its territory there is a museum, an auditorium for lectures, an exhibition gallery, a venue for concerts.

A Catholic church in the Neo-Gothic style, located near the Lakensky Palace. It was built according to the project of the talented master J. Pulart. Inside is the tomb of the Belgian monarchs. The church building was erected in the middle of the XIX – early XX century in memory of the wife of King Leopold I – Marie of Orleans. During her lifetime, the Queen wished her body to be buried in Laeken.

A Gothic temple of the XV – early XVI centuries, built at the expense of military guilds on Sablon Square. In the Middle Ages, crossbow competitions were held in this place. The temple was rebuilt from a small chapel of the XIV century. Inside the church there are altars belonging to military guilds and dedicated to the patron saints of these professional communities.

The museum complex is located in four buildings. It includes: the Museum of Ancient Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Constantin Meunier Museum, the Antoine Wirtz Museum, the Margritte Museum, the Fin de siècle Museum. The collection includes more than 20 thousand paintings and sculptures. It houses an outstanding collection of Dutch, Italian, French and Flemish paintings.

A museum consisting of works by the famous Belgian surrealist R. Magritte. It opened in 2009. More than 200 works of the author are exhibited here – drawings, canvases, advertising posters, photographs. The museum claims to be a full-fledged center for the study of the artist's creativity and heritage. You can learn about the life of R. Magritte from the films that are shown in the museum cinema hall.

Belgium is considered the European leader in the production of chocolate. It was the Belgian masters who came up with chocolate candies with filling and pralines. A museum dedicated to this delicacy appeared in Brussels in the second half of the XVIII century. On its territory, you can taste delicious varieties of chocolate and delicious fillings. The museum is also a shop where you can buy a delicious souvenir to remember your trip to Brussels.

A museum where musical instruments from different countries of the world are collected. The exposition has about 7 thousand copies. The museum was founded at the end of the XIX century on the basis of the private collection of King Leopold II. At first, the exhibits were located in the premises of the Brussels Conservatory, in 2000 they were moved to the historic building of 1899, built in the Art Nouveau style.

It is hardly possible to recall a military conflict in which Belgium played a key role. However, this fact does not prevent the country from having one of the largest collections of weapons and military paraphernalia in Europe. The museum's exposition consists of sabers, swords, rapiers, modern submachine guns, pistols, as well as numerous military equipment collected from all over Europe.text

The museum's collection includes several hundred vintage cars and motorcycles. There are sports cars, public transport, cars designed with environmental requirements in mind, and even cars owned by celebrities and politicians. The museum exhibits unique models of "Bentley", "Rolls Royce" and "Bugatti" of the 30s, you can also look at the car of J. Kennedy and T. Roosevelt.

The museum's collection is dedicated to the work of architect V. Hort, who is considered the founder of the original Art Nouveau style. This master had a great influence on the architecture of the Belgian capital. The exposition is located in the house where V. Ort lived. The structure was built especially for him, many elements of the interior were designed by the master personally.

Three shopping galleries united by a glass dome. They were opened in the middle of the XIX century and since then have become a place of pilgrimage for shopping lovers. In addition to shops, there are cafes, cinemas, art salons, a theater stage. The Royal Galleries are a valuable architectural monument of Brussels and a real decoration of the city center.

A swimming complex, on the territory of which there is one of the deepest pools in the world. The lowest point is located at a depth of 34.5 meters. Inside the pool there are several underwater artificial caves, through special portholes you can watch the visitors of the local bar. People come to Nemo 33 for diving and just for recreational scuba diving.

Medieval gates of the XIV century, once part of the city's system of fortifications. The building survived after the demolition of the city wall. In the XIX century, the majority of Brussels residents voted for the destruction of the gates, but they survived and were recognized as a historical treasure. The Halle Gate was restored according to the architect Beyart's project, and the museum of the history of weapons is located inside.

A park on the territory of which all the main European attractions are located in a reduced size. There are Big Ben, Eiffel Tower, Leaning Tower of Pisa, numerous palaces from various European capitals and much more. The area of the miniature park is 24 thousand m2, a detailed inspection of the exhibits will take several hours.

The attraction is located in the eastern part of the Belgian capital. The park was founded at the end of the XIX century, its opening was timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Belgium's independence from the Netherlands. The park is decorated with monumental patriotic sculptures, pavilions, frescoes, marble bas-reliefs, luxurious alleys. One of the architectural dominants is the Triumphal Arch with antique figures symbolizing the Belgian provinces.

A forest area on the southern outskirts of Brussels. Until the XIX century, it was considered impassable and dense, but later its area was significantly reduced. The forest is located on the territory of the provinces of Wallonia and Flanders, as well as on the territory of the Brussels region. Wild animals are found here: wild boars, moose, forest rodents, various types of birds. Fish live in the forest lake.