Belgium / Belgique
Belgium, I had not been there for over six months. So when Belgium Uniquely Phenomenal invited me to spend a few days there to discover the cities of Brussels, Antwerp and Liège, I did not hesitate one second. Yet I already went 3 times to Brussels in less than a year, but if it is culture, food or especially the sympathy of the Belgians in general, it is always an enchantment! So here I go for Belgium a little more than 3 days, ready to re-discover Brussels in another way, and discover these 2 other cities where I had never been before.
Hold on, I'll take you with me!
BRUSSELS
1st day:
After 1h20 by de Thalys train (it is really too cool this speed from Paris to Brussels), the day begins with...the hotel! One must refresh a little and leave the luggage!
An hour later, we were left, me and my fellow adventurers (journalists and bloggers from different countries) at Old England, 2 steps from the Mont des Arts, for a lunch on high altitude, under a beautiful sun and a magnificent view! The time that this small team gets acquainted, and also a very good lunch, direction the Magritte Museum!
After this visit, it was time for a drink (culture makes thirsty!) And what else than a beer tasting at the Beer Project Brussels. This place is incredible, and the owners real beer lovers who invent tastes, aromas and brew themselves in a very large number of different vats! A must to visit during a stay in Brussels for all beer lovers, I highly recommend!
As the evening approached, we left in direction of the Grand-Place, more precisely indoors the Town Hall of Brussels. Well then I took full eyes! Already it is a real privilege to be received inside these walls, but the architecture as well as the decoration are breathtaking. It is really beautiful ! We also attended to a giant concert from the balconies of the Town Hall, it's just amazing!
BRUSSELS TIPS:
- Where to sleep: Radisson RED Brussels, Rue d'Idalie 35, 1050 Ixelles, Tel +32 2 626 81 11. At few steps of the European Parlement, you'll love this city hotel for an ageless expressive crowd connected via art, music and fashion.
- Where to drink: Brussels Beer Project, Rue Antoine Dansaert 188, 1000 Bruxelles, Tel +32 2 502 28 56. If you don't go to take a beer there, it's like you never had a beer in Brussels!
- Where to eat chocolates: Laurent Gerbaud Chocolate Factory, Rue Ravenstein 2D, 1000 Bruxelles, Tel +32 2 511 16 02. The best chocolates of Brussels!
- Where to eat waffles: Maison Dandoy, Rue Charles Buls 14, 1000 Bruxelles, Tel +32 2 512 65 88. Brussels waffles or Liege waffles, make your own choice! But they are both the best you can find in the city, at few steps of the Grand-Place!
- Where to have lunch or dinner:
Restaurant du MIM, on the rooftop of The Old England building, Hofberg 2, 1000 Brussel, Tel +32 2 502 95 08. For an opportunity to have an incredible view over the city and to visit this beautiful and famous art nouveau building!
L'Ecailler du Palais Royal, Rue Bodenbroek 18, 1000 Bruxelles, Tel +32 2 512 87 51. One of the best restaurant of Brussels (expensive too), I had one of the best dinner of my life there! Perfect for a romantic dinner :P
Taverne du Passage, Galerie de la Reine 30, 1000 Bruxelles, Tel +32 2 512 37 31. This place is nice for a good brasserie food, but also for his location, inside the Galerie de la Reine, it's so amazing!
ANTWERP
2nd day:
After a good night's sleep, we leave by bus to Antwerp.
A difficult start of the day with a heavy rain and a heavily loaded sky, but that's part of the Belgian charm too! We start with the visit of the harbor, the second largest of Europe by its demensions! Mixing the ancient and modern concerning its architecture.
The Belgian weather being a bit foolish, it did not take long changing during our trip in the direction of the Grand-Place of Antwerp. This place and its architecture are fabulous, I enjoyed myself according to photo level, by my most beautiful encounter of this stay, Leah Shoup.
We then continued with the magnificent view on the roof of the MAS, building of an amazing architecture! As well as the visit of the Shopping Stadsfeestzaal
Heading towards Antwerp Central Station to take the train back to Brussels, but what a train station! A pure marvel of architecture, judge yourself with these photos!
ANTWERP TIPS:
- Where to have the best "french" fries: Frites Atelier Amsterdam, Korte Gasthuisstraat 32, 2000 Antwerpen, Tel +31 85 876 9838. Here you can eat chips made by the Michelin-starred chef Sergio Herman! It's so tasty, will you be the next to try the chips with truffles?!
LIEGE
3rd day:
3rd day, 3rd city, we leave for Liège, by bus. Small problem, it's the Brussels marathon! So we lose a lot of time to escape the city, and we arrive a bit later in Liège. But waiting was worth the trouble because we arrive directly at the central station of Liège. An architecture completely different from the one of Antwerp, but equally brilliant from an architectural point of view and to photograph! Frankly I could have stayed there 2 hours without problems to photograph every corner of the station.
We then explore various places in the city that turn out to be pretty charming. Too bad the weather was so changing, alternating cloudy and very cloudy!
Return by bus to Brussels for a last night before returning to Paris.
LIEGE TIPS:
- Where to have lunch: La Maison du Peket, Rue de l'Epée 4, 4000 Liège, Tel +32 4 250 67 83. The best place in town for the real belgium food and finishing with a peket, the local digestive!
Many thanks to the team of @BelgiumUniquelyPhenomenal for this beautiful long weekend in Belgium, it was surprising, and full of beautiful encounters. My belly, with its 3 kg more in 3 days, thanks you less on the other hand! ^^
BELGIUM TIPS:
- Languages: French, Dutch, German
- Money: Euro
- Calling Code: +32
