The mixture of old buildings, brick houses, colored Hanseatic houses, interesting churches and cathedrals, narrow cobblestone streets, lovely canals and delicious  chocolate and beer makes Bruges an amazing destination. A medieval and picturesque air can be felt in every corner of this town.

Visiting Bruges is indeed a relaxing experience, so I advise you to take your time and enjoy this town. However, if you won’t be able to spend too much time in Bruges you should know that its most famous tourist attractions are all gathered downtown. Despite the fact that Bruges is the largest town of West Flanders Province, its center is not very large and it can be easily visited in a few hours.

No matter how much time you will spend in Bruges, make sure you will visit the following places, which are in my opinion the most representative ones:

1.Built in a neo-Gothic style, the Provincial Palace (Provinciaal Hof) used to be the seat of the Provincial Council of West Flanders. Situated in Markt Square, this impressive building has an interesting exterior embellished with spires, statues and ornaments.

2.The Bouchoute House (Huis Bouchoute) is the oldest building in Markt Square. This perfectly symmetric building seems to be cut out from a different story compared to all the other asymmetric buildings. The octagonal instrument that embellishes its façade gives the house an imposing allure.

3.The Craenenburg House (Huis Craenenburg) is also a beautiful historic building located in Markt Square. The legend says that the Craenenburg House is the place where Emperor Maximilian of Austria was imprisoned. This building currently hosts a famous traditional Flemish café.

4.The most special attraction in Bruges, Belfry & Halle is a famous building with an interesting exterior design. Its 83 meters tall medieval bell tower seems to guard the entire Markt Square and it is considered a symbol of liberty and wealth. A really special thing about this place is the fact that it has 47 different bells.

5.Markt Square also hosts a group of lovely Hanseatic houses. I have to confess that these colored houses with their strange roofs are my favorite buildings in Bruges. An interesting detail about them is the fact that their roofs were built in the shape of stairs.

6.Situated in Burg Square, The Basilica of the Holy Blood (Heilig-Bloedbasiliek) is a Roman Catholic church. It is said that a crystal vial containing a drop of Christ’s blood is kept in this church. The Basilica of the Holy Blood has an interesting exterior embellished with arches and golden statues.

7.Also located in Burg Square, The Town Hall (Stadhuis) is an impressive Gothic building. Its exterior is decorated with arched windows, small turrets, interesting pilasters and beautiful statues. The interior of Stadhuis hosts a collection of interesting paintings, splendid wall murals and a colorful vaulted ceiling.

8.The Palace of the Liberty of Bruges (Brugse Vrije) perfectly completes the beautiful collection of buildings which are situated in Burg Square. This building used to function as the seat of the Liberty of Bruges and also as the courthouse of Bruges. Now it hosts the council administration and the archives of Bruges. The Palace of Liberty of Bruges is famous for its beautiful black marble fireplace.

9.Situated in the Djiver quarter, the Church of our Lady (Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk) is a beautiful medieval church. This church is famous for its 122 meters tall tower and also for its white marble sculpture by Michelangelo, called The Madonna and Child. The tower is the tallest in Belgium and also the second tallest brick tower in the world.

10.Saint John’s Hospital (Sint-Janshospitaal) is one of the oldest hospital buildings in Europe. You should know that this building is open to the public. It is really interesting that the old infirmary hosts Hans Memling Museum, where you can admire a collection of objects that relate to medicine: hospital records, medical instruments, medical documents, paintings and other works of art.

11.The beautiful Dijver Houses are situated on both sides of the Dijver Canal. These lovely medieval buildings have an imposing allure and play an important role when it comes to the beauty of Bruges. Some of the Dijver Houses host museums, restaurants, cafes or shops.

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Situated in northern Belgium, Bruges is indeed a charming town. It is the most well-preserved medieval town and also one of the most beautiful in the entire country. Once you get to this picturesque town, you should be prepared to plunge into a fairytale world. Bruges is one of the tourists’ favorite destinations when it comes to amazing fairytale towns.

This town seems to be more than a tourist attraction, it is a mixture of medieval old buildings, lovely Hanseatic houses, interesting brick houses, beautiful churches and towers. The abundance of narrow cobblestone streets, lovely canals and horse-drawn carriages completes this scenery in a harmonious way.

Beyond its fairytale image, this town has an incredibly vibrant atmosphere. It is warm and friendly and it makes you feel like you are on top of the world. This is indeed my own perception, but I am sure that after your experience there you will feel the same.

There are a lot of beautiful places to discover in Bruges and some of them are definitely a must-see. I am talking about the lively Markt Square with its Belfry & Halle, the Provincial Palace (Provinciaal Hof) , the Bouchoute House(Huis Bouchoute), the Craenenburg House(Huis Craenenburg) and all those colored Hanseatic houses, the lovely Burg Square with the Town Hall (Stadhuis), the Basilica of the Holy Blood(Heilig-Bloedbasiliek) and the Palace of the Liberty of Bruges (Brugse Vrije), Bruges’ beautiful canals, the Church of Our Lady(Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk), Saint John’s Hospital (Sint-Janshospitaal) and the Dijver Houses.

I could go on talking about all these beautiful places, but I will choose not to. You should take a look at the following pictures and let yourself be charmed by this amazing town. I have to confess that a collection of pictures was the aspect that convinced me to visit Bruges. On this note, I will let you enjoy the following pictures which I am sure will convince you to add this town on your trip list.

1.Hanseatic Houses2.Belfry & Halle3.Belfry & Halle

4. The Provincial Palace

5.The Provincial Palace6.Markt Square with the beautiful Craenenburg House7.Markt Square with the beautiful Bouchoute House8.The Town Hall & The Palace of the Liberty of Bruges9.The Town Hall&The Basilica of the Holy Blood10.The Basilica of the Holy Blood

11.The Town Hall12.Bruges’Canals13.Bruges’Canals14.Bruges’Canals15.Dijver Houses16.Dijver Houses17.Dijver Houses18.Saint John’s Hospital 19.The Church of Our Lady20.The Church of Our Lady

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What would you say if I told you there is a place that brings together the main attractions of the Old Continent? Although it seems impossible, I assure you that such a place exists. I am talking about Mini-Europe, an outdoor museum that hosts a variety of miniature buildings, monuments and sights. Situated in Brussels, next to the Atomium, this miniature park displays the most famous and beautiful sights in Europe. It will be a real delight to admire this collection of about 350 scale models, from 80 different European cities. You will have the chance to walk among the Eiffel Tower, the Acropolis, the Big Ben, the Tower of Pisa, the Trulli of Alberobello, the Grand-Place of Brussels and so on. You can also relax admiring the gondolas of Venice or the Lisbon Ocenarium. Beautiful landscapes from Santorini or the Algarve will fill you up with energy and good mood. Significant moments in European history are perfectly reproduced in Mini-Europe: the fall of the Berlin Wall, the launch of the Ariane rocket or the eruption of Mount Vesuvius Volcano. An animated miniature world is portrayed in a beautiful setting embellished with natural green spaces. I could say a lot of things about this impressive place, but I will let the following pictures say the rest.

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There is a place that can offer you the chance to take a tour around Europe in just a few hours. This place is Mini-Europe, an outdoor museum located at the foot of the Atomium, in Bruparck , Brussels. Inaugurated by Prince Philip of Belgium in 1989, this miniature park hosts an impressive collection of about 350 exhibits from 80 different European cities.

This collection covers an area of 24000 m² and it consists of a variety of miniature buildings, monuments and sights. Represented at a scale of 1:25, all these scale models are perfect reproductions of the original buildings and sights. The setting is really special: a big garden embellished with plants, dwarf trees, bonsai, bushes and flowers.

It will be a memorable experience to walk among all these European symbols and admire their unique architecture. This park brings together the most beautiful and important monuments in Europe: the Eiffel Tower, the Big Ben, the gondolas of Venice, the Acropolis, the Tower of Pisa, the Trulli of Alberobello, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the Grand-Place of Brussels, the Lisbon Ocenarium and many others.

I was impressed by the fact that traditional villages from different parts of Europe are perfectly reproduced on a small scale in this park. For example, you can discover beautiful landscapes from the Algarve, Portugal or Santorini, Greece. Another aspect that I liked very much about Mini-Europe was the reproduction of some of the most significant moments in European history: the fall of the Berlin Wall, the launch of the Ariane rocket or the eruption of Mount Vesuvius Volcano.

The big surprise is that Mini-Europe also hosts miniature trains, mills and cable cars which actually function. A whole miniature world is lying in front of your eyes and even if it is not real, it will make you feel the European atmosphere and learn a lot of things about the main attractions in Europe.

Mini-Europe is also perfect for children. This place gives them the opportunity to live an amazing adventure in the world of miniatures and also play entertaining games during their visit. It is important to know that Mini-Europe is usually closed at the beginning of the year. This year the park will be closed between January 4th and March 11th .

Therefore you should take this aspect into account because it would be a pity to go to Brussels and not be able to visit this fabulous place.

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This unique piece of architecture is actually a metal structure made of iron crystal and it represents the nine atoms of a unit cell. The entire structure is built on three pillars, it weighs 2400 tons and it is 102 meters tall.

The nine metal spheres connected by twenty tubes, were initially made of aluminum, but this metal was replaced with stainless steel after renovation. Built by Andre Waterkeyn as the emblematic image of the World Fair of Brussels in 1958, the Atomium became the symbol of modernity and of scientific progress.

The Atomium was supposed to be a temporary construction but its popularity turned it into one of the most famous international tourist attractions. It will be a wonderful experience to admire this construction from the outside, but you should definitely not miss the interior.

Five of the spheres are open to the public and the access is facilitated by stairs, escalators and a lift. The interior is really incredible. The whole place is embellished with a multitude of lights and colors which will give you the feeling that you are in a science fiction world.

The main sphere hosts a permanent exhibition that you can visit in case you would like to find out a lot of details about this construction. Other temporary exhibitions on various topics can be admired in the other spheres. The big surprise in my opinion is the fact that a whole sphere has been transformed in a playground for children.

In case you are a parent this will be more than perfect, because you will be able to offer your own child the chance to live an unforgettable experience. The interior of this sphere looks like the setting of a science fiction story. You should also know that various workshops are organized there. I find really brilliant that this place has a bedroom where children can rest after the hustle and bustle of their science fiction adventures.

The surprises don’t stop here because there is a nice restaurant in the upper sphere that will offer you the most spectacular view over the entire city. Another interesting thing about this iron structure is that sometimes it hosts different events such as: concerts, film screenings and conferences.

If you are a souvenir lover you should know that your passion will be fully satisfied at the Art & Design Atomium Museum which is situated next to the Atomium. I think I have covered everything you need to know about this fabulous place, but if I missed something, you will surely discover it during your visit there.

I really enjoyed my experience at the Atomium and I believe that you will find this place as interesting and special as I did.

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You should spend at least a week in this beautiful city in order to have enough time to visit all these places. If you are going to spend only one day in this city, there are some places you should definitely not miss. You should take into account the following recommendations, in case you want to spend a perfect day in Brussels:

1. Firstly you should check the weather forecast and choose a sunny day in case you want to enjoy your trip around the city. Weather in Brussels is very unpredictable.

2. You should wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

3. Brussels is famous for its interesting architecture and no tourist should miss the masterpieces of the city.  The most representative buildings are in my opinion: the Grand Place-Grote Markt, the Manneken Pis , the Jeanneke Pis, the Palace of Justice, the Royal Palace, the National Basilica of the Sacred Heart and the Statue of Europe.

4. A walk in the Cinquantenaire (Jubelpark) will give you the energy to continue exploring the city.

5. You should not miss the Atomium, which is the iconic image of Brussels and the symbol of Belgium. It will be a memorable experience to visit the five spheres which are open to the public.

6. Mini-Europe is an outdoor museum where the tourists can admire scale models of famous European monuments and buildings.

7. If you are a museum lover Brussels is the place to visit. There are a variety of museums you can choose from. In my opinion the most interesting ones are the Musical Instruments Museum ,the Rene Magritte Museum and the Chocolate Museum.

The Chocolate Museum is an absolute must if you want to plunge into the world of chocolate and live an amazing experience.

8. You shouldn’t miss the most important European institutions. The European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Council are all located in Brussels.

9. In my opinion you will not have a complete experience in Brussels if you don’t taste some Belgian dishes such as: fries, mousse and the best chocolate and beer.

If you like spending your holidays in the big cities of the world and you are ready to be fascinated by a unique architectural style, Brussels is the perfect destination.

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