Top 10 Must- See Places to Visit in Belgium

Belgium is situated in the heart of Western Europe, bordered by France to the south west, Luxembourg to the south east, Germany to the east and Netherlands to the north. The top landmarks in Belgium are more than enough to delight any tourist. Belgium has beautiful countryside and masterpieces of historical architecture which dates back to middle ages. Belgium also boasts superb local cuisines and crystal clear waterways which offer the perfect vacation spot. So grab a chance to visit Belgium as it is full of fun and adventure for all.

Highlights Of Places To Visit In Belgium

10 – Mons

One of the best places to visit in Belgium is the elegant Mons, the capital of the Province of Hainaut, Belgium. It is famous for its Belfry and the 80 meter (270 foot) tower. Mons also provides the best picturesque view as it is surrounded by beautiful streets. Gothic architecture fans will enjoy seeing the Gothic style of town hall buildings and also the church of Sainte-Waudru. The sheer amount of detail shown in the church’s statue collection is famous as well. And for all art lovers, who come to visit the town, every city has a Van Gogh House.

9 – Dinant

This city is situated on the banks of the beautiful River Meuse in the Namur region and is about 65 kilometers or 40 miles away from the country’s capital. Among the natural wonders that draw people to this place, the Caves of Han and the Grotto of Dinant are notable. These caves are respectively among the largest and most beautiful in all of Europe and lie in a Nature Reserve rich in indigenous vegetation and wildlife.

Nevertheless, the city’s prime building, The Collegiate Church of Notre Dame, is fascinating although it is one of those structures which had to be partially reconstructed after a voluminous rock slide occurred, as is the restored Citadel which is located above Dinant. Most of Dinant’s sanctuaries can be visited by prior arrangement; however, the Sanctuary of Beauraing can be visited any day of the week.

Leuven is home to the largest Christian university and it has a total of about 100,000 people out of which 35,000 are students who bring life to the city twent- yfive. There are two streets that appear never ending and have a lot of interesting retail and gallery spaces while the eastern part of the city integrates the Old Quarter that features historical landmarks such as The Belfry on St. Peter’s and Grand Beguinage.

Area around the Great Market in Leuven where the city hall is located seems to be very much vibrant and indeed filled with activities. There are several restaurants, and street side cafes and pubs. This city’s location makes it quite a good substitute for Brussels as the principal base for getting to know the rest of the country.

8 – Tournai

On the border of France, Tournai is a small beautiful town to relax from the busy areas of the greater Belgium. Here, one can appreciate two millennium’s worth of distinct history since this city boasts of what many believe to be the prettiest churches in the entire world, the Notre Dame Cathedral with five towers Gothic and Romanesque style.

It is also noted that the Cathedral contains the Shrine of Our Lady, os paintings from Ruvens as well as Jordaens two great artists who existed in the 12th to 13th centuries. The town Palfrey is the oldest in the country and gives its users 257 football field flights of stairs that present the most beautiful scenes in the city of Tournai. The Museum of Fine Arts offers a variety of pictures including those done by Campin, Rubens, Roger Van der Weyden and Van Gogh all of their paintings cross from primitive art all the way to contemporary art.

7 – Mechelen

Mechelen is, in fact, one of the most interesting places to see in Belgium, even though it is not as well known by tourists as many others cities in Belgium. Tours of the Beguinage Brewery and river boat trips are just some of the activities that one can check out there. The best way to enjoy a panoramic view of Antwerp Port and the stunning city is visiting the St. Rombout Cathedral’s massive tower. Of those flaming hot spots, the glorious Carillion School is simply a must since students from everywhere come there to be taught the complicated instrument of bells.

6 – Ardennes

For those who enjoy hiking, biking and camping, there is only one place to go to, and that is the Ardennes with its steep hills and forests, caves and cliffs. They are home to wild boar, deer and lynx and conceal a number of friendly villages, many castles and a few other wonderful places. The majestic Han-sur-Lesse caves, Bouillon castle, and the innovative Barvaux Labyrinth top the list of the best ones. And the most notable different attractions include the great city of Namur, which is a fantastic base for travellers who want to see more of the Ardennes.

5 – Antwerpen

Antwerp is a place that is multi-dimensional. Although it has no Bastions like Ghent and Bruges, it is a very active city with a good balance of the past and modern-day activities. Food lovers, beer lovers, and people that like to have fun This city is the center of the diamond trade where 70 percent of the rough diamonds in the world circulates.

There is plenty of art amongst Antwerp as well with Revenshuis honoring great baroque work of Peter Paul Ruebens and the Printer and bookbinder Christoffel Plantin is housed in the Plantin Moretus Museum. The architectural sites include the gothic Cathedral of Our Lady dating back to 1351, which is quite a sight as well as the beautifully crafted barrack and gothic structures of the Church of Saint Paul.

4 – Ghent

When you hear about Ghent, don’t be surprised as this is one of the most delectably beautiful cities in Belgium. History tells us that Brussels witnessed some of the most glorious times in the middle ages, this is most particularly. It was boastfully the second most powerful city in Western Europe, just after Paris. And since then, the myriad of such facts about Brussels also follow.

It’s no surprise that Brussels today commands intrigue for the best pieces of medieval architecture, with the buildings of many prominent churches and trade houses remaining to this very day. And to make the whole picture perfection, the city center exists in full medieval style and even today one can feel the spirit of late Brabantic city-state that used to flourish there. This is especially the case to beautiful places like the old Graslei with its medieval old churches and the Gravensteen castle.

3 – Brussels

Brussels, the capital city of Belgium, boasts a number of sites and places of interest and is likely to be the starting point possible of their tours for the visitors to Belgium. Besides, since many European organisations have settled their offices in this town, I can venture to call it even the capital of the European Community.

Of great importance, Grand Place is the key point of the city and dates back to the 13th century. Numerous interests such as the remarkable Town Hall with a striking Gothic façade are around the main square that has several cafes and bars. There is good opportunity for base works among the Galeries St. Hubert whose location is centralized in the shopping arcade with a glass roof, shops, theaters, and sometimes cafes.

2 – Bruges

Bruges is situated in the north western part of Belgium and it is arguably one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe, in which olden and romantic atmosphere prevails. Once, it was a significant point in the development of Flemish painting and textiles, but now it is mostly known for its lovely water channels.

Bruges may indeed be the capital of the province of West Flanders but it can still be covered by foot. The Old Town is the prime attraction in Bruges as it is breathtakingly beautiful. Surrounded by canals and medieval fortifications this historic area is rich in fine buildings of all ages and styles, including a number of Romanesque and Gothic churches, such as the Church of Our Lady with a sculpture by Michelangelo, and a Basillica that claims to have a vial of Jesus’s blood.

The most recognizable feature of the city is that of the Markt Square belfry. Visitors can access this thirteenth-century bell tower and enjoy wonderful views of the city. Other places worth seeing include great Gruuthuse Mansion and the remarkable Saint John’s Hospital constructed in 1188.

Bruges has some sort of long living tradition whereby museums are part of its cultural set-up, customs and even the works of renowned Flemish painters. Strolling around the town on tiled streets brings forth many shops that deal with mouthwatering local chocolates, Belgian beer and lace work. One would also comically laugh at the great options of sceneries presented by the canal cruises as well as more romantically, rides on horse-drawn carriages.

1 – Map of Belgium