Brussels Apartment Types

Brussels – the capital city of the pocket-sized cultural melting pot that is Belgium- is also the capital of the EU, the headquarters of NATO and a major tourist hotspot of Europe, making it an immensely popular destination with politicians, diplomats, business travellers and tourists alike.

History

According to legend Brussels originated in 695 AD when St Géry, the Bishop of Cambrai and Arras, built a chapel on one of the islands in the swampy Senne (Zenne) River. The name Bruocsella – Bruoc meaning marsh/swamp and sella meaning dwelling – however, wasn’t recorded until 966. In 979 Charles the Duke of Lorraine built a fort on the St Géry island and moved from Cambrai to Bruocsella where a large settlement developed. In the 11th century the city got its first walls and gained its second walled fortifications in the 14th century. 1482 saw the Hapsburgs come to power and Emperor Charles V use Brussels as the capital of his vast kingdom allowing the city to flourish greatly. In 1695 King Louis XIV sent French troops in to the city who bombarded it with artillery which led to mass fires and the destruction of the Grand Place and over a third of the city’s buildings. In 1830 the Belgian revolution took place in Brussels and consequently Belgium became an independent state with Brussels as its capital. Post WWII, Brussels became an important centre for international politics being crowned the capital of the European Union (EU) and the headquarters for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), titles which it retains to this day.

Getting In & Getting Around

Brussels Airport is the main airport in the city with flights to over 180 destinations worldwide. Brussels Airport lies just 12km (8 miles) north east of the city centre and is connected with bus and train services. Brussels South Charleroi Airport, the city’s second and smaller airport is popular with low-cost budget airlines and is situated 55km (37 miles) south of the city. There are three main train stations in the city – Bruxelles-Central, Bruxelles-Nord and Bruxelles-Midi. A number of European services, including the Eurostar, operate to and from Bruxelles-Midi station. The city is served by a comprehensive transport network consisting of metro, tram and bus services.

Culture, Sights & Attractions

As you would expect from a top European destination, Brussels is home to a wide range of sights and attractions. The breathtaking Grand Place is the most famous attraction in the city. A World Heritage Site, the Grand Place is possibly the most beautiful square in Europe and is host to the colossal Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville), ornate guild houses and a buzzing atmosphere. The Manneken-Pis, a bronze statue of a urinating boy, is the unofficial icon of Brussels and is often found dressed up in one of hundreds of costumes made by proud locals. Atomium, the 335ft (102 metre) tall representation of an atomic unit cell consisting of nine steel spheres offers some of the best views over the city and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. Brussels is home to over 90 museums, some world famous – the Musées Royaux d’Art et d’Histoire (Royal Museum of Art and History) and the Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate - and some more quaint and unique – Musée De La Brasserie (Brussels’ brewery museum).

Eating Out

Brussels boasts over 1800 restaurants with every type of food you can think of available. There are also a large number of cafés, bistros and fast-food eateries in the city as well as brasseries which sell a good selection of local beer and typical national dishes. Belgian cuisine is rated by connoisseurs as some of the finest in Europe whilst Belgian chocolate is probably the best in the world. The city is a stronghold for chocolate manufacturers and there is an abundance of chocolate shops throughout the city including Godiva, Neuhaus and Leonidas.

Outside The City

Visiting Brussels doesn’t mean you have to be confined to the city centre. Belgium is a relatively small country which makes it easy to get out and about. Antwerp, the world’s leading diamond city, is just 55km north of Brussels and is a massively popular destination with stunning architecture, fascinating history and magnificent diamond shops. Bruges, one of the best preserved pre-motorised cities of Europe and home to The Friet Museum - the world’s only chip museum, is just 100km north west of Brussels and is easily reached by regular train services.

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