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Belgium Six Must-See Gems Bruges
Belgium has a long and rich history offering many fascinating destinations to enjoy. It would be impossible to describe everything that this country has to offer in a short article but below is a glimpse into six of Belgium’s must-see gems. Antwerp Diamond Museum. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend (so they say) and if you like diamonds then a visit to the world’s largest diamond museum in Antwerp is a must. The city of Antwerp in Belgium is now regarded as the center of the diamond trade in Belgium and it is said that about 80% of the world’s diamond jewelry is made there. The diamond museum reflects the important role that Antwerp plays in this industry and has several inter-active displays which showcase the skills of the diamond cutters and polishers. There are also weekly exhibitions by expert diamond polishers. Popular exhibits include replicas of the British crown jewels and the Koh-I-Noor diamond. Spa. The Ardennes region of Belgium is wellknown as an area of outstanding beauty, ideal for touring and taking in the views. One of the major towns in the Ardennes is the town of Spa, whose name is now synonymous with baths and springs of healing waters. Spa has been on the map as a center for baths and hot springs since the 14 century and was considered as the resort to go to by the European aristocracy in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today Spa retains its old world charm but the baths have been extensively modernized and expanded. The main complex of baths is located at “Les Thermes De Spa”, where the visitor can relax in the healing waters or take a sauna or massage. The modern world of motor racing visits Spa once a year as it is home to the historic Formula One Grand Prix circuit at SpaFrancorchamps. All in all an area to be included in any visit to Belgium. Waterloo. Most people will recall learning about the Battle of Waterloo in their school history lessons. The city of Waterloo where the battle took place in 1815, is located not far from the Belgian capital, Brussels. For visitors wishing to find out more about the events of 1815 there are museums and monuments commemorating the Duke of Wellingtons victory over the Emperor Napoleon. The battlefield has been preserved and it is
possible to wander over the fields where the battle took place. A panoramic view over surrounding area can be had from the top of “La Butte du Lion”, a mound with the statue of a lion at the top, said to have been built as a symbol of the the allied forces’ victory. The Wellington museum, housed in the former allied army headquarters and reputed to be where Wellington stayed during the battle, has many exhibits of items from the time. Bruges. In the province of Flanders, near to the Dutch border, stands the ancient city of Bruges. The historic center of the city was one of the first tourist venues, attracting visitors from all over Europe in the late 19th century. The city
center is surrounded and entwined by a series of canals and this has given rise to the nickname “the Venice of the North”. The canals, together with the many narrow cobbled streets and lack of motor traffic, can give the tourist the feeling that he/she has stepped back in time. This feeling is further enhanced by the abundance of wellpreserved medieval buildings which seem to be on every street. As if these attractions were not enough, Bruges still has more to offer its visitors. In the world of lace making Bruges is probably the most well-known center, famed for the quality of its lace products. There are a multitude of shops
and stalls selling lace souvenirs, many of them at bargain prices considering the work that has gone into the making of the items. The Royal Museum of Fine Art. One of the largest and well-known collections of Flemish art can be found at The Royal Museum of Fine Art in Brussels. There are more than 20,000 works ranging from Flemish and Dutch Old Masters to paintings from the present day. Flemish paintings by such illustrious figures as Rubens and van Dyck are well represented and include 20 works by Rubens. These are housed in their own salon. Paintings by many Dutch Old Masters such as Rembrandt are also featured. This is a very large collection of art, spread over two buildings, and if you want to make the most of it you will need to allocate plenty of time. Groeninge Museum. Among the many fine museums to visit in Belgium, the Groeninge Museum in Bruges needs to near the top of the list. This museum specializes in paintings of artists who lived and worked in Bruges. There, you will also find the works of painters from many other areas are also on display. The Groeninge Museum has what is probably the best collection of paintings of the group of artists known as the Flemish Primitives. Artists in this group include painters of the caliber of van Eyck. There are also many examples of more modern works including the Herbert Collection of expressionist paintings. Of course Belgium has many more sights to see than the six mentioned. Hopefully after reading the above your appetite will have been whetted and you have been encouraged to consider paying a visit. If you can, seek Belgium travel advice from experts who know the country well. This way you can relax knowing that you have all the information that you need to have a good stay. More info: www.traveladvice.tv/europe/belgium
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