Hi and welcome. This is the second post from my visit to Brussels in late February. Two evening walks, both of which ended in the Grand Place. No photos of the Grand Place today as my last post was dedicated to it. You can find the photos here: Enjoy the walk!
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| Brussels the capital, is the largest city of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union (EU). Lots of squares with some garden area in Brussels |
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| Brussels has grown from a 10th-century fortress town founded by a descendant of Charlemagne to a sizeable city. The city has a population of 1.2 million and a metropolitan area with a population of over 1.8 million |
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| I was working during the day but free late afternoon on both the nights I was there. This is Théâtre Royal du Parc. It was built in 1782 |
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| This building is tucked away behind the Theatre. I don't know what it is but it is very intriguing. If you know please leave a comment. Thanks! |
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| Palace of the Nation, seat of the Belgian Federal Parliament |
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| Walking toward the historical centre of Brussels |
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| Imposing building! |
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| The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula is a Roman Catholic church on the Treurenberg Hill. The church was given cathedral status in February 1962 and has since been the co-cathedral of the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels, together with St. Rumbold's Cathedral in Mechelen |
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| I don't know who this is. If you do, can you leave a comment for me? Thanks! |
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| Since the end of the Second World War, Brussels has been a principal centre for international politics. Hosting principal EU institutions and the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the city has become the polyglot home of numerous international organisations, politicians, diplomats and civil servants |
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| I'm getting close to the Centre now. Lovely buildings illuminated |
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| Historically Dutch-speaking, Brussels has seen a major shift to French since Belgian independence in 1830. Today, although the majority language is French, the city is officially bilingual |
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| This is the end of the first walk |
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| Parlamentarium the Eropean Parliament's Visitors' Centre |
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| Just up from the Parlamentarium |
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| The Place du Luxembourg (French) or Luxemburgplein (Dutch) is a square in the European Quarter. It is better known by local European bureaucrats and journalists by one of its nicknames, "Place Lux" or "Plux" |
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| Getting close now to the Royal Palace |
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| The Royal Palace of Brussels (Dutch: Koninklijk Paleis van Brussel is the official palace of the King and Queen of the Belgians in the centre of the capital. However it is not used as a royal residence, as the king and his family live in the Royal Palace of Laeken on the outskirts of Brussels |
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| "The Palace is where His Majesty the King exercises his prerogatives as Head of State, grants audiences and deals with affairs of state. Apart from the offices of the King and the Queen, the Royal Palace houses the services of the Grand Marshal of the Court, the King's Head of Cabinet, the Head of the King's Military Household and the Intendant of the King's Civil List. The Palace also includes the State Rooms where large receptions are held, as well as the apartments provided for foreign Heads of State during official visits." |
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| Clock Tower of St. Jacobs |
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| Lovely square |
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| The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) is a music museum in central Brussels. It is part of the Royal Museums for Art and History and internationally renowned for its collection of over 8000 instruments. The museum's current location, as of 2000, is in the former Old England department store, built in 1899 by Paul Saintenoy out of girded steel and glass in the art nouveau style as well as an 18th-century neo-classic building designed by Barnabé Guimard |
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| Sunset..... |
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| .....always a winner |
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| Square – Brussels Meeting Centre is the name of a convention centre. It is run by the GL Events group and situated in cultural and historic district of Brussels near the national and international institutions, overlooking the city from the hillside of the Mont des Arts |
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| Handsome couple |
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| Getting closer to the centre |
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| Gorgeous light....... |
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| .....makes it hard to stop..... |
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| ......taking shots |
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| Looking back |
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| I leave you with this lovely building. Thanks to Wikipedia as always. Hope to see you soon |
