A Short Visit to Brussels, Belgium

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A Short Visit to Brussels, Belgium
Brussels was the last destination in our itinerary. For the first time in the trip, we were travelling through Euro-rail. We had booked it through Thalys. We boarded the train at 9:00 A. M at Schiphol airport. We reached Brussels station at 11:00 A. M. We purchased a day pass and then headed to The Grand Place. I didn't plan Brussels in the initial itinerary. But I got Thalys tickets for just 40 euros/ head and then thought will somehow include that in the travel plan.
From the station, we walked through "Bourse" also known as the stock exchange.


The Grand Place or Grote Markt is the central square of Brussels. It is surrounded by opulent guildhalls and two larger edifices, the city's Town Hall, and the Breadhouse building containing the Museum of the City of Brussels. The square is the most important tourist destination and most memorable landmark in Brussels. It measures 68 by 110 metres (223 by 361 ft), and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the 10th century, Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine constructed a fort on Saint-Géry Island, the furthest inland point at which the Senne river was still navigable. This was the seed of what would become Brussels.





We had lunch at Brasserie du Lombard. A normal bar in Brussels would easily offer over a variety of 100 beers.


We didn't have any places to visit list this time. After going through TripAdvisor, we headed to Kunstberg or popularly known as Mont Des Arts. The Mont des Arts is a slope in the historical center of Brussels city . Mont des Arts is actually on the Cold Mountain , between the Place Royale and the downtown including the Grand Place . By the end of the 19th century, King Leopold II had the idea to convert the hill into a Mont des Arts and bought the whole neighbourhood. After the demolition of the old buildings, the site turned into an ugly urban void because the project lacked sufficient finance. To give the area, situated between the Royal Palace and the Grand Place, a better look during the Universal Exposition held in Brussels in 1910, the king ordered the landscape architect Pierre Vacherot to design a 'temporary' garden on the hill. It featured a park and a monumental staircase with cascading fountains descending the gentle slope from Place Royale down to Boulevard de l'Empereur/Keizerslaan.








Next, we walked through Justice Palace. The streets of Brussels are architecturally very rich. The Palace of Justice or Law Courts of Brussels is the most important court building in Belgium and the largest courthouse in the world. It was built between 1866 and 1883 in the eclectic style by the celebrated architect Joseph Poelaert. The total cost of the construction, land and furnishings was somewhere in the region of 45 million Belgian francs. It is reputed to be the largest building constructed in the 19th century. It is a notable landmark of Brussels.



The Place Poelaert overlooking sixty-three meters Lower Town Brussels serves as the gigantic square Palace of Justice . The construction of an urban lift makes it possible to quickly connect the lower and upper cities. Measuring 155 by 50 meters, it is the largest square in Brussels.



Within a few yards there is a beautiful church. Our Blessed Lady of the Sablon Church  is a Catholic church from the 15th century located in the Sablon district in the historic centre of Brussels, which was patronized by the nobility and wealthy citizens of Brussels. It is characterised by its late Brabantine Gothic exterior and rich interior decoration including two Baroque chapels.



Finally, it was time to get back. We had some Belgian waffles near the Brussels metro station. We headed back to Schiphol again via Thalys.

This was our last destination. The Euro trip was memorable. Really thankful to my cousin Gachu and Shiva for guiding me throughout the trip and also providing some very useful tips. I was really glad to travel with 2 of my best buddies Kripal and Madhu. We never imagined Mavis to be part of the trip. It was one trip where everything fell in place and we got more than expected. I really missed Akshatha on this trip. Nevertheless, Euro trip-2 plan already started going through my mind.















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