Tourism in Belgium
Each year, the Belgium receives approximately 6,7 million tourists, the majority coming from the adjoining countries (France, Germany, Netherlands and Great Britain), representing a total turnover of 10 billion dollars (2% of national GDP).
The accessibility, the density of public transport and the proximity of the tourist places make of Belgium a popular destination for the European holiday makers. The majority of tourism industry are based at the coast or in the Ardennes. Brussels and the Flemish cities Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent attract also each years of the thousands of tourists.
Tourist cities
Brussels
See also: Brussels
The European capital is universally known for its Grand Places, the Atomium and Manneken Pis. That however represents only one small portion of what is to be seen in Brussels. The city has several buildings of Art nouveau (It is in this city that was built the first building Art nouveau by Victor Horta) and of Art Déco. The royal Galleries Saint-Hubert (the first covered commercial gallery of the world) and the Law courts constitute some of principal tourist attractions of the city.
Flemish Area
Antwerp
See also: Antwerp
Antwerp is, after Brussels, the second plus big city of Belgium and, after Rotterdam, the second larger wearing of Europe. Known for its zoological garden and its diamonds (80% of worldwide production of diamond is exchanged in Antwerp), it was one of most important arts centres of Europe at the XVIIe century and guard several remarkable buildings (the town hall, the Silvius Brabo,…).
Bruges
See also: Bruges, Béguinages Flemish
The " Venice of Nord" have many buildings dating from the Middle Ages (the Notre-Dame Church, the béguinage, old doors of the city,…). Known universally for its lace it was European Capitale of the culture in 2002.
Leuwen
See also: Leuwen
Famous for his markets and his university (one of oldest in the world), one can admire also there the béguinage and the church St Pieter (all two classified with the world heritage of UNESCO).
Ghent
See also: Ghent
Capital of the old County of Flanders, sometimes rival of Bruges, it is the birthplace of Charles Quint. One can see there the cathedral Saint-Bavon in which one can admire the mystical Agneau and the universally known Polyptyque. The Castle of the Counts de Flandre and the church Saint Nicolas are also attractions which attract nombreaux tourists.
Walloon region
Namur
See also: Namur
The capital of Wallonia has many attractions. The center town is made up many primarily commercial malls and the neighborhoods offer beautiful possibilities of excursions, in particular in the Field of Marlagne. The city is dominated by the Citadel, of Vauban, whose one dominates all the city, as well as the confluence of the Meuse and Sambre. One can visit the seat of the Walloon government also there. The Cathedral St-Aubain, the District of the Brewers and the Belfry are two places impossible to circumvent for whoever passes by Namur. It is also the place of famous and sumptuous festivals of Wallonia which take place each year in September.
Liege
See also: Liege
The largest town of Wallonia was, like Brussels, victim of the Art nouveau. It results a single mixture from it from old buildings in the center town. From its history, Liege counts a great number of churches representing of the very diversified architectural styles (the Collégiale St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, the Cathédrale Our-Lady-and-Saint-Lambert, the Basilique Saint Martin's day, Collégiale Holy-Cross,…). The city shelters also many museums, of which the Musée of weapons (larger museum of firearms in the world), as well as the Musée of the Walloon Life to the Cour of the Minors, the Musée Curtius also called Musée of Archeology and decorative Arts, the Musée of Glass, without forgetting the Aquarium Dubuisson and the Musée of Zoology of the University of Liege.
Durbuy
See also: Durbuy
Durbuy is known like more the small town of world (10413 ha. to the 31-12-2004). Its moyenâgeuse atmosphere attracts each year of the thousands of tourists. Located in full heart of the the Ardennes, it offers many possibilities of relaxation to those which like nature, ideal for the excursion, the VTT, the kayak. The city is also famous for its gastronomical offer.
Food
See also: Walloon Gastronomy, Kitchen of Brussels
Although the national dish is traditional the " moulds-frites" , there exist many other Belgian specialities. The Waterzooï, the carbonnades, the pellets Inhabitants of Li2ege and the Pâté of goose are some examples. Without forgetting the Waffles (of Liege or Brussels]) and the many varieties of chocolate.
Belgium has also many varieties of Bière S, since one produced there more than 500 brown ales, fair or ambrées, including 6 of the 7 beers Trappists: Orval, Chimay, Westvleteren, Rochefort, Westmalle and Achel. To also discover, many varieties of gueuze, beers of abbey, beers special and pils. This diversity is offered by the 115 breweries which account the territory of Belgium.
Natural history
Impassioned sciences will be able to move towards the Muséum of the natural science of Belgium (which accommodates one of the largest collections of Iguanodon in the world) and the Grotte of Spy (which made it possible to make definitively admit by the international community the existence of a human type more antiquated than the modern man: the Man of Néandertal).
Transport
Belgium has many public transport and is very easy access. One can arrive there by the train (the TGV Thalys and Eurostar connects Brussels to Paris, London…) and by plane (Airport of Brussels, Airport of Charleroi Brussels-South, Airport of Liege…).
Notes and references of the article
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