Europe is composed of over 40 countries, which are connected by the European Union. The headquarters of the European Union is located in Brussels, Belgium, and many people call it “the capital of Europe”.
Apart from the European Union and its ancient and magnificent architecture, Brussels is probably most famous for the Smurfs, “The Adventures of Tintin” and the story of Julien the Peeing Boy. Of course, the statue of the Peeing Boy is also one of the “Big Three” in Brussels.
Alright, let’s start the introduction from the city center
The architectural style in the city center of Brussels is mainly characterized by Flemish features
In addition, a representative architect of the Art Nouveau movement
The buildings designed by Victor Ota are also a feature of the city
Big Square
The large square located in the city center was built in the 12th century AD. The rectangular square is surrounded by Gothic buildings on the north side that resemble burning flames, with a carpet of flowers in the middle. The spire of the City hall is 85 meters high. At the top of the spire, there is a 5-meter-tall statue of the patron saint of Brussels. The ceiling inside the hall is decorated with exquisite patterns and houses huge portraits of historical figures as well as a large oil painting by the renowned painter Rubens. Nearby are shopping streets and many distinctive restaurants. Galeries St. Hubert, the oldest shopping street in Europe, is also located here.
Little hero Yu Lian
This little boy, who is half a meter tall, naked with his hands on his hips and urinating, has been replicated into various versions and spread all over the world. He is a little hero with a story and also the “First Citizen of Brussels”. It is said that over 500 years ago, this little boy named Julien extinguished the fuse of the intruder with a single urination, saving all the residents of the city. Therefore, this statue was erected in his memory. The Maisondu Roi beside the square houses hundreds of peeing boy costumes from all over the place and is worth a look. Because the statue is exposed outdoors, it has had a rather unfortunate fate. It has lost parts and been painted yellow. Fortunately, the vast majority of the Belgian people love it very much. In summer, they will put a hat on it, and when it snows, they will put a scarf and a hat on it and so on
Comic Museum
There is also a comic museum in the center of Brussels. It is located in an unremarkable alley but is very famous. At the entrance of the museum stand the famous Belgian young reporter “Tintin” and his cute little dog. The comic Museum has three floors. The first floor introduces to visitors how comics come into being. The second layer introduces the most active cartoonists in Belgium from the early 20th century to the 1960s. The name of the third floor is “Belgian Museum of Modern Comics”, with over a hundred exhibits summarizing the development of Belgian comics from the 1960s to the 1990s.
Comic Wall
When you see the comic wall, you will feel that this is truly a city full of love. Local artists in Brussels have painted various local cartoon characters on the exterior walls of buildings. The lifelike characters thus come alive in the city. You can hold a comic map and explore these 44 huge comics painted on the walls yourself. Many of the comics are integrated into the surrounding scenery. When you turn around, you may find that The church in the painting actually stands in the sunset glow, and the ground in the painting is exactly the same as the cobblestone road beneath your feet.
The Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium
Jacques-louis David: The Death of Mara
The Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium, with a history of over 200 years, is one of the most important art museums in Belgium, located in the Coudenberg district in the center of Brussels. The Royal Museum houses over 20,000 paintings and sculptures from the 15th century to the present, including a large number of Flemish oil paintings. More than 20 works by Rubens are on display in the “Rubens Hall”. The museum also houses the famous oil painting “The Death of Marla” created by Jacques-Louis David.
Risselberg: “Stroll”
After visiting the Royal Art Gallery
Don’t forget that there are also the Magritte Museum and the Musical Instrument Museum nearby
The Magritte Museum
The Musee Magritte Museum (MMM) is located on the west side of Royal Square, adjacent to the Royal Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Musical Instruments. The museum houses approximately 150 works created by the renowned Belgian surrealist artist Rene Magritte (1898-1967), which can’t help but change many preconceived notions during the visit. Sometimes interesting performance art shows are held on the square.
Musical Instrument Museum
The Musical Instrument Museum is located in the exquisite Art Nouveau building, the Old British House. It houses over 7,000 Musical Instruments of various styles and is one of the largest museums of its kind in the world. The top floor of the building houses both indoor and outdoor restaurants, from where you can overlook the scenery of Brussels.
The Royal Palace of Brussels
The Royal Palace of Brussels is the residence of the Belgian royal family. This exquisite building has perfectly preserved the architectural style of the 16th century. The front of the building is adorned with exquisitely crafted bronze decorations and delicate, lightweight colonnades, while the well-lit corridors and intricate carved stone carvings in the imperial palace further accentuate the ingenious design. The “King’s Hall” inside the palace is the most famous. This magnificent Rococo-style hall is decorated with many crystal chandeliers, which shine brightly under the illumination of lights.
