Belgium Travel Advice Is Necessary To Plan Your Visit

Belgium Travel Advice Is Necessary To Plan Your Visit

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Although Belgium is famous for chocolate and beer, it has much more to offer the visitor than those two delights. The country has many unique and interesting venues and this article will introduce six top attractions that Belgium has in store for you. Seek professional Belgium travel advice before you go. It will help to ensure that you get the most benefit from your holiday.

The rarity of diamonds has made them perhaps the most precious of precious stones for many people. The Diamond Museum in Antwerp is the ideal place to find out more about these fascinating objects. Antwerp can well claim the right to house a museum dedicated to the diamond industry as the city has been the center of Belgium's diamond industry since the 16th century. There are many fascinating exhibits from the world of diamonds; among the most popular are replicas of the British crown jewels. This includes the largest diamonds in the world, the Cullinan and the Koh-I-Noor diamond from India. The many displays take the visitor on a fascinating voyage journey through the history of the diamond trade, from its origins in India to the beginnings of European diamond cutting and polishing, ending with a look at diamond mining in South Africa in the present day. On view are examples of antique diamond cutting and polishing tools and old diamond mining equipment.

Although there are many places throughout the world where there are baths or spas of waters said to have the power of healing, the town of Spa, located in the Belgian Province of Liege, is the original. Most holidays tend to consist of tiring days spent dashing around trying to take in the sites. In Spa the emphasis is on relaxation. The "Thermes De Spa" is certainly the place to go for this as there are more than 800 square meters of spa baths complete with saunas, massage and other facilities. Spa is also famous for its Formula One motor racing circuit, Spa-Francorchamps, where the atmosphere is anything but relaxing. Spa is situated in the Ardennes region of Belgium, renowned for the beauty of its rolling, wooded countryside which is ideal for touring.

One of the most famous battles in Europe is the Battle of Waterloo where Napoleon Bonaparte was finally defeated by a coalition army led by the Duke of Wellington. The preserved battlefield is still a popular tourist attraction, drawing many visitors to the small Belgian city. During the summer season there are regular colourful and noisy re-enactments of the battle. Further reminders of the historic significance of this famous battle are seen throughout Waterloo. A popular attraction is the Wellington museum which has many artifacts from the battle and is housed in what was the headquarters of the allies. Although small the city of Waterloo has many interesting buildings and good facilities for its visitors.

Mention the name Bruges and those who have heard of it immediately think of lace making and canals. Indeed, the predominance of the latter has earned Bruges the nickname, Venice of the North. The other claim to fame, lace making, is also well deserved as Bruges has a long history of excellence in this craft. There are still schools devoted to lace making and a casual stroll around the town on a warm summer's day will reveal many lace makers sitting in their doorways producing their hand crafted lace products. The architecture of Bruges is another reason to visit. Much of the old medieval city is still well preserved and many original buildings are now museums. The visitor is reminded of the proximity to the Dutch border when he/she catches sight of the four windmills which encircle the town. They are left over from the days when the city produced all its own cereals and flour, the city walls having a large number of windmills built into them.

Flemish painters were among the most influential from the 15th to the 17th centuries and it is fitting that one of the largest art museums in the world, The Royal Museum of Fine Art, should be located in Belgium's capital, Brussels. The museum contains a world famous collection of paintings by Flemish Old Masters such as Rubens, Brueghel and van Dyck. The museum's collection of Ruben's paintings is housed in their own room. As well as the Old Masters paintings, there is an extensive collection of modern paintings. To make it easy for visitors to find their way around the collections are arranged in order of date, with each period being housed in a separate area. This museum should be on all art lovers' list of places to visit.

Among the many fine museums to visit in Belgium, the Groeninge Museum in Bruges needs to near the top of the list. This museum specializes in paintings of artists who lived and worked in Bruges although there the works of painters from many other areas are also on display. The Groeninge Museum has what is probably the best collection of paintings of the group of artists known as the Flemish Primitives. Artists in this group include painters of the calibre of van Eyck. There are also many examples of more modern works including the Herbert Collection of expressionist paintings.

Choosing the six places to visit in Belgium was not easy as the country has so many attractions to offer the tourist. Belgium does not yet have the popularity as a tourist destination as some other countries but it is hoped that after reading the above you will be keen to find out more about what the country has to offer the visitor. To help you in your preparations for your holiday don't forget to obtain reliable Belgium travel advice so that you are aware of any special requirements you need to comply with.

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