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TRAVEL

The Atomium

Brussels is a city often neglected in favor of the well established European cultural destinations
such as Paris or Rome. Contrary to its impression of a dull and soulless city that is home to the
European Union, the Belgian capital has so much more to offer as a holiday destination in itself.
Here is a selection of some of the finest treasures that Brussels has to offer.

Grand Place are welcome to look around the palace
Originally built for trade hundreds of The big three clichés throughout the summer, free of charge.
years ago, the square boasts spectacular Belgium is famous for its chocolates, waffles Basilica of the Sacred Heart
architecture, including the Brussels Town and beer, and rightly so. Shops selling A little to the north of the cultural heart of
Hall, the spire of which can be seen across chocolates abound in Brussels, and the Brussels stands one of the largest church
much of the city. Every other August, a waffles on offer range from simple affairs buildings in the world. This is the biggest
stunningly beautiful flower carpet is created to those with a range of toppings. The beers Art Deco building to be found anywhere
from a million begonias in the centre of the brewed in Belgium number well into the on the planet, and as you would expect,
square, adding another dimension to this hundreds, and Brussels is surely as good the basilica dominates the skyline from its
UNESCO World Heritage Site. a place as any to try as many as you can position at the top of a hill.
manage!
Manneken Pis. Mini Europe and the Atomium.
This small bronze statue of a urinating St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral Further north again sits the Atomium, a
child is just a street or two away from the Conveniently located near many of the monument designed to look like an iron
Grand Place, and is one of the most famous other major attractions in the city, this Gothic crystal magnified more than 100 billion
attractions in Brussels. There are at least style cathedral is stunning both inside and times. Originally constructed for the Brussels
five different popular legends behind its out. With a history that dates back almost a World’s Fair in 1958, it is now an important
existence, all of which involve a young child thousand years, no visitor to Brussels should tourist attraction, containing a variety of
urinating on the street corner. In the stories, bypass the beautiful architecture and deep exhibitions in its unique ‘atomic’ spheres.
the child either saves the town in this way serenity of the cathedral. At its feet is Mini Europe, a fascinating site
(peeing on the heads of soldiers etc.), or the that allows you to tour the major attractions
child is simply found relieving himself after of an entire continent in miniature, scaled
a lengthy search. The statue is regularly Royal Palace of Brussels down 25 times. The models are of a very
dressed up in costumes, and with around Despite the fact that this palace is no high quality, and include everything from
800 to choose from, the statue may well longer used as a royal residence, the Big Ben in London to a live model of Mount
look different every time you see it! relatively recent neoclassical building is still Vesuvius in Italy.
a very attractive major landmark. Visitors

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