Brussels

Grand Place

The Grand Place is Brussels’ vibrant and beautiful central square. For almost a thousand years the square has been buzzing with activity and is still one of Belgium’s most visited tourist destinations. Lined with amazing shops, cafés and architecture, the square offers visitors plenty of choice to make it a truly great day out.

Grand Place, Brussels, Belgium by ChrisO

Ghent

St Michael’s Bridge

St Michael’s Bridge is one of the most famous tourist spots in Belgium. Renowned for its chocolate box beauty, the bridge and surrounding area is perfect for that romantic stroll or spot of watercolour painting. Many thousands of tourists who pass through Ghent make the small trip to visit St Michael’s Bridge and have their picture taken in the tranquil surroundings as a memento of their time visiting one of the most beautiful sites in Belgium- something you will never want to forget.

St Michael’s Bridge, Ghent, Belgium by Alexandra Lee

Bruges

Boudewijn Theme Park

If you’re looking for something with a little bit more adrenalin then Boudewijn Theme Park in Bruges is a must. There are plenty of attractions and rides to keep both the kids and adults entertained- though some may prove a little daunting. Plus there’s the unique opportunity to get up-close and personal with the park’s resident dolphins. With dolphin shows throughout the day the Theme Park is sure to put a smile on the face of any animal lover.

Photo by admin

Ostend

Kursaal Casino

One of the jewels in Belgium’s casino crown is the Kursaal Casino situated in the beautiful coastal town of Ostend. The casino itself is more than one hundred and fifty years old but was rebuilt after the Second World War. It’s a popular gambling destination for locals and visitors alike with thousands pouring through its doors every year. Like most of the casinos in Belgium it offers a wide variety of games at a range of stakes all set in amazing surroundings. Unlike most casinos in Belgium it has strong ties with Britain being that in the 1920’s many British gamblers visited the casino on holiday whilst gambling was prohibited in the UK. Of course, if you don’t make it to Ostend to visit this fabulous casino you could always visit Golden Palace Poker Texas Hold’em and try your luck there, if the gambling bug bites!

Casino Kursaal, Ostend, Belgium by Wasily

Antwerp

Rubens’ House

Rubens is one of the most famous artists that Belgium has ever produced. His awe-inspiring paintings can be seen in many of the top galleries around the world and the house that he built in Antwerp is almost as breath-taking. In it, visitors can find a large collection of Rubens’ work amongst the works of many other prominent artists and Rubens’ own collection of statues. This house is a must-see for any art lover visiting Belgium.

Rubens’ House, Antwerp, Belgium by Velvet

The post 5 Top Places to Visit in Belgium appeared first on Europe Explored.

Surprising few things are known for this stable country, which gave birth to one of the first European cities and whose early painters have the merits for the inventing of the oil painting. Probably the lack of passionate nationalist feelings is result from the various cultures that have been melting for centuries. You will enjoy and incomparable vacation if you choose to visit Belgium and have a great stay at any of the vacation rentals here.

Belgium has a population of over 10 million people; it’s bordering with: Germany, Netherlands, France, Luxemburg and the North Sea on North West.

Bruges, Belgium by Coy!

Without even trying to be ostentatious, Belgium is able to enchant the visitors with a number of things: from the historically rich cities and the serene hillocky Ardennes to the wonderful cafes, bars and charming vacation home rentals which will make you feel at home. The official languages are three: Flamand, French and German. The capital of Belgium is Brussels- 80 % of which are French- speaking. Antwerpen is the world’s diamond trade center.

Bruges is the Flanders’s capital. Preserving its authentic medieval architecture, the city is one of the most visited places in Belgium. It has been announced as the European cultural capital in the year of 2002. The city’s central square is a colourful palette of flags, depicting lions and lilies- ancient families’ coats of arms. The square is surrounded by antiques and shops for the world famous needle lace.

Another popular sight is the Notre Dame Cathedral, whose construction took two centuries- from 13th to 15th – with a tower 122 meters high. It is the home for the Michelangelo’s Madonna of Bruges statue made out of white marble, depicting Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus; as well as the sarcophagus of Mary of Burgundy and Charles the Bold. There are plenty of hospitable apartment rentals located near it offering an excellent view of the Cathedral.

The Basilica of the Holy Blood is a unique edifice, consisting of two chapels, built one over the other. It is believed that the legend for the Holy Grail- the grail form which Jesus Christ sipped and which contained his blood after his dead, starts namely from here. Similarly to many other European cities, the City Hall is the oldest building- the Gothic edifice built between 1376-1420, stands proudly impressing with the facade of a stone lace.

Basilica of the Holy Blood, Bruges, Belgium by raider of gin

Bruges’s channels, also called The Venice on the North, offer tourist tours, combining in one splendid panoramas and the encounter with the medieval looking city, being a significant part of the world historical heritage. Let’s not underestimate the chocolate shops at every turn, which fragrance acts like a magnet for the visitors. No matter the occasion, which brings you in Belgium, the season or the vacation rental types accommodation you have choosen for your stay, you will surely enjoy a profound and unforgettable holiday with a scent of chocolate.

Article has been written by https://www.vacation-rentals.com/blog/.

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Royal Palace, Madrid, Spain by Konstantinos Dafalias

1. Madrid’s Royal Palace

The largest palace in Western Europe and probably the most beautiful is none other than the royal palace in Madrid. The palace holds many artistic treasures in the form of eighteenth century furniture along with priceless paintings and tapestry by Tiépolo Velázquez, Goya, Giordano and Mengs. A must visit because it is open to the public on all days in the year except on the occasions of special ceremonies and proceedings.

2. La Puerta del Sol

This is the central square of Madrid and is a short walk from the plaza mayor. It’s on the top 10 list due to the celebrations which take place in this location on New Year’s Eve. The square boasts the famous clock which everyone in Spain turn their eyes to. Millions gather on the square and will guzzle down a glass of wine for each of the 12 chimes at midnight on New Year’s Eve. This celebration is conducted every year in the blistering cold and is thoroughly enjoyed by every individual present there. The celebration is broadcast throughout Spain live every year.

3. The Debod Temple

What is a temple dedicated to gods Amon and Isis doing in Madrid? Many have asked this same question. An authentic Egyptian temple built in the year 2BC was shifted to Madrid in 1968 as a donation by the Egyptian government to the Spanish people. If the temple was not shifted from its original location in Egypt, it would have been submerged underwater from the construction of the Aswan dam. Along with the significance of the temple the site on which it stands is historic too; the site was host to revolts and riots during the 1936 Civil war.

Debod Temple, Madrid, Spain by Manuel Martín Vicente

4. The Prado Museum in Madrid

This is perhaps Madrid’s top and most famous cultural sight. Already ranked as one of the world’s top most art galleries it host works by revolutionary artists such as Raphael, Rubens, and Bosch. At the time of its inception the Spanish queen was impressed by the Louvre in Paris and wanted to boast her own country’s collection. At that point in history when art was given mass importance throughout the land this competition between both museums lead to a truly astounding collection and display of the best each country had to offer.

5. Retiro Park

Retiro Park is to Madrid as central park is to New York City. This is the most popular park in Madrid and is situated behind the Prado museum. The attraction in the park is the large lake where you can go boating. There are entertaining street performers in the park as well. The locals however use this park with the sole purpose of being lethargic. “Lazing around” transcends into an art form in this park.

6. La Gran Vía

This is possibly the most popular street in Madrid, often mentioned in many book and seen in many international movies this street boasts lavishly decorated building with great architecture. This large street was made with a view to solve the problem of a chaotic maze which previously had the same location.

La Gran Vía, Madrid, Spain by diego.aviles

7. The Rastro Flea Market

Every Sunday from 9 am to 3 pm in the center square of Madrid one of the most symphonic yet chaotic scenes can be seen. It is said to be the largest flea market in Europe hosting a variety of products both old and new. Over 3500 stalls stretch through many streets in the city’s working class neighborhood, it turns into a great place to practice some hardcore haggling skills. This great plethora of shopping, socializing, eating, drinking and generally having some Sunday fun was all brought to life at sometime during the middle ages.

8. Plaza de Cibeles

The fountain of Cibeles is a monument dedicated to the Goddess Cibeles who is the Greek goddess of fertility. This icon has been adopted by the football team of real Madrid and is found on all their football wear. This is often a hangout joint for football fans during and after matches. The football players themselves are in the tradition of visiting the fountain to meet their fans after they play a major tournament or championship.

Plaza de Cibeles, Madrid, Spain by Paul Virostek

9. The Basilica of San Francisco el Grande

The basilica is dedicated to our lady of the angles and is located near the royal palace. With the biggest dome in Spain and the 3rd biggest in Europe the basilica is truly a marveling sight. This one basilica host three chapels and each one is adorned with paintings done by a different yet equally famous artist of the time.

10. Fountain of Neptune

This fountain of Neptune who is the Greek God of the seas; is seen many times in several movies and is testimony to the hold Spain had on the seas during the crusades and to the strength of the Spanish navy. This statue is a counterpoint to the Cibeles fountain. Both at a point used to face each other but the government later decided to turn them to face the city.

About the author: Chris Lane is a writer and blogger. He loves travel and has recently gone on a Ghana trip, which he is planning to write about in the next few weeks.

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