The Meuse Valley, south of Brussels, is one of the best places to get a feel for Belgium’s rural heartland.
The Meuse River offers Belgium’s most scenic river trip opportunities, with dense forest countryside interspersed with hilltop craggy castle and fortress ruins, and little waterfront towns backed by limestone cliffs.
Head to either the towns of Dinant to plan your river trip. Both these small centers act as gateways to this region.
The Meuse Valley is also home to a host of hiking and cycling trails for travelers who want to add some activities into their holiday.
Its monuments may not be as famous as those in visitor favorite Bruges, but Mechelen’s old town area is a great place to capture a sense of medieval Belgium, with plenty of gabled architecture and fine old buildings still in situ.
The central Grote Markt is bordered by some exceptionally fine buildings including the Town Hall and Lakenhall, while the impressive Sint-Rombouts Cathedral with its tall clock tower rises up just behind.
Away from the main square, a stroll through the center will also reveal plenty of typical guild house architecture that history fans are sure to want to see.
The Meuse Valley is best experienced as a road trip, starting in Liège and traveling upstream to Namur, Huy, and Dinant. But because of the frequent and quick connections, traveling by train and bus is still an option.…
This massive fort was once the grand residence of the counts of Flanders, who were inspired by the bulky castles built by the Crusaders in Syria.
Gravensteen is now one of Europe’s best-preserved examples of a moated fortress, and it is incredibly well-preserved.
Its impressively thick and high walls rise from the waters of the Lieve right in the heart of Ghent’s old town, rising above the rooftops of the surrounding streets.
The vast arched halls and chambers inside contain exhibits of mediaeval life, but the castle’s architecture is the real star of the show. Climb to the roof for panoramic views of the city before strolling through Ghent’s charming stone-paved streets.
If you only see one church in Bruges, make it this one. The Basilica of the Holy Blood is notable not only for its fusion of Romanesque and late Gothic architecture, but also for the sacred relic housed within.
The upper chapel houses the church’s famous vial, which is said to contain a drop of Jesus Christ’s blood that was brought back to Belgium after the Second Crusade.
Even if you’re not interested in holy relics, the interior of the church is a dazzling riot of gild work that was completed in the 16th century and is worth a visit.
In Belgium, visitors will discover a surprisingly wide range of things to do, from stunning natural settings to historical sites and cultural attractions. Families will find lots of family-friendly activities in the Belgian capital, Brussels, and the ancient port city of Antwerp, while couples searching for romantic getaways will love the medieval atmosphere of historical cities like Bruges and Ghent.
Military history enthusiasts also have a lot to look forward to, from the isolated Flanders battlefields to the several top-notch museums devoted to Belgium’s contribution to the two World Wars. With our list of the top locations to visit in Belgium, you may discover all of this and much more.
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1. MEDIEVAL BRUGES
A popular tourist destination in Belgium, Bruges is known for its charming atmosphere and medieval buildings. One of the most endearing aspects of Bruges are its canals, and no trip to the city is complete without taking a picturesque canal boat excursion. Tourists can view the city from a new angle from the sea; on land, they can wander beside the canals and observe the passing boats; also, the neighborhood tourist office offers free walking tours. The homes along the Dijver Canal, some of which are now museums, are noteworthy in particular. Burg Square, commonly referred to as “the Burg,” and Market Square are the two principal squares of the historic center and are situated next to one another in the middle of the city.There are many spectacular buildings around Market Square, but the Halle and its 83-meter belfry are by far the largest one. The belfry, which took three centuries to build—it was begun in 1282 and finished in 1482—is home to 47 bells and offers visitors who are daring enough to ascend its 366 steps an observation platform.
The Basilica of the Holy Blood on Burg Square, which combines late Gothic and Romanesque architectural styles, is a must-see for lovers of ecclesiastical architecture. The tourist information center, located in the Liberty of Bruges, the former Law Courts, and the ancient Town Hall (Stadhuis), which was finished in 1420, are also located in the Burg.
2. UPPER MEUSE VALLEY
The Meuse River divides the nation into two regions, with E42 running from Liege to Namur and then on to Dinant. The valley is renowned for its picture-perfect little towns, breathtaking limestone cliffs, and lush, trail-strewn forests.
With a sizable university and a number of historic sites, Namur (also known as Namen) is located in the valley’s centre. The Namur Citadel, which is enjoyable to explore and a great place to get expansive views of the valley, is perched on an outcropping above the town.
The greatest places to go sightseeing in the city are around the Rue de Fer and in the heart of the Old Town, where visitors can find a number of excellent museums as well as shops and cafés. Historic churches may also be found in Namur, including the Church of Notre-Dame and its ecclesiastical Treasury, which contains a number of rare religious artifacts, as well as the 18th-century Cathedral of Saint Aubain.
A spectacular 12th-century abbey, originally the Premonstratensian Abbey, can be found near the village of Floreffe, west of Namur, and it presently serves as a seminary. The abbey church is a great location to visit and still has some of its historic characteristics.
The next village over, Fosses-la-Ville, also has a monastery that dates back to the 12th century. Sadly, little little of the original remains, but visitors may still appreciate
Franc-Waret Castle is a stunning fortified castle from the 17th century located not far from Franc-Waret, northeast of Namur. The interior of the castle is filled with a variety of original furnishings, artwork, and rare items, and the grounds can be toured by visitors. The gardens have been meticulously maintained to look just as they did during the castle’s heyday.
3. BRUSSELS: THE HEART OF EUROPE
Any visitor to Belgium should be sure to see the capital city of Brussels, which is home to both the European Union’s headquarters and the residence of the Belgian Royal Family. Brussels is renowned for its range of restaurants and cafés that represent numerous gourmet heritages due to the diverse population of the city. The Old Town is home to many historic landmarks, beautiful specimens of Baroque and Gothic architecture, and a bustling, active city core.
The Grand Place, the main square in Old Town, is where visitors may locate it (Grote Markt).Nearby, on the Rue de l’Etuve, is the famous Mannekin Pis statue. Nearby is also the magnificent Saint-Michel Cathedral, a Gothic building with twin towers and magnificent stained-glass windows that was built in 1225.
The Palais Royale, the royal family’s formal house, is located above the historic city center (Koningsplein). The Coudenberg Palace Archaeological Site, a fascinating dig site of the original palace’s foundations and long-buried streets, is located on the palace grounds and is open for visitors to explore. The Belgian Royal Museum of Fine Arts, which has an ancient art wing and a modern art wing, is located in The Mont des Arts, which is close to the palace.
4. MEMORIALS AND BATTLEFIELDS OF FLANDERS
Ypres, the scene of some of the most horrific trench combat during WWI, is where travelers should begin their pilgrimage if they wish to see some of the most significant battlefields, memorials, and conflict-related landmarks. Visit the Flanders Fields Museum, which is housed in Ypres’s ancient Lakenhalle on the city’s main square, the Grote Markt, to gain a thorough understanding of the region’s involvement in history and to see items from the conflicts.
Tourists often start their tour of the battlefield from Menin Gate after viewing Rijselpoort, the fortified gate where British soldiers established their command headquarters. Soldiers marched into battle from Menin Gate, which now honors the 54,896 British soldiers who perished in action by bearing their names inscribed on its surface. Last Post has been sounded at this location each evening at 8 o’clock since 1928.
5. WATERLOO
The area where the battle once raged is now a pastoral scene of agricultural fields. Still, a manufactured hill rises from the surrounding flatlands to mark the occasion when Napoleon’s army was defeated. A monument lion sculpture is perched atop the mountain.
The peak offers stunning vistas of the surrounding area. Waterloo continues to be a crucial stop on tour for anybody interested in the history of Belgium and, more broadly, of Europe.
