MARDASSON MEMORIAL REMEMBERS THE AMERICAN SACRIFICE IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE: North-east of the town of Bastogne is the Mardasson Memorial, a star-shaped monument commemorating the American soldiers who died or were injured in the Siege of Bastogne during the Second World War. Built as a tribute from the Belgian people to the American […]
Halles Saint-Géry – A Covered Market Hall
HALLES SAINT-GERY WAS A COVERED MARKET BUILT AROUND A PYRAMID: In Place Saint-Gery, west of the Brussels Stock Exchange, is the Halles Saint-Gery, a covered market hall that was built in the 19th century. Halles Saint-Gery no longer functions as a covered market, but the building and the site on which it stands are historically […]
See Magnificent Views of Bruges from its Belfry
ON TOP OF ITS SPECTACULAR VIEWS, THE BELFRY OF BRUGES HOLDS SOME MEDIEVAL TREASURES: The Belfry of Bruges or Belfort is not the tallest building in Bruges but it is certainly one of its most dominant and important landmarks. The Belfort towers over the Grote Markt (Bruges’ market square) and from the top of this […]
See A Different Bruges From Water Level
CRUISE BRUGES’ CANALS FOR A UNIQUE POINT OF VIEW: Bruges is sometimes referred to as the “Venice of the North”. Why? The city is circled by canals and some of the most picturesque images of Bruges are set against its waterways. Touristy it may be, but one of the must-do things in this city is […]
Beautiful Buildings and Holy Blood in Bruges’ Burg Square
THE BURG SQUARE IN BRUGES WAS AN IMPORTANT POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS CENTRE: The Burg, the other main square in Bruges is just off the east side of the Grote Markt. From the Markt, we took an easy stroll along Breidelstraat (next to the post office) to arrive at the Burg (fortress). Although there is no […]
The Markt – Bruges Medieval Market Square
BRUGES MARKET SQUARE IS LINED WITH INTERESTING HISTORICAL BUILDINGS: The Markt, one of the two main squares in Bruges, has many attractions that visitors like us come to see. This open space is lined with attractive gabled houses, restaurants and the imposing Provinciaal Hof (Provincial Palace). Also on the Markt is the Belfort, an 83-metre […]
A Visit to Orval, Famous for its Trappist Beer
THE ORVAL BREWERY IS ONE OF THE TEN TRAPPIST BREWERIES IN EXISTENCE: From Dinant, we travelled south, taking the pretty country roads of the Semois Valley to Orval. Orval is of course famous for its Trappist beer and this visit was going to be one of the highlights of Tony’s Belgium visit. He’ll happily admit […]
A Visit to the Waterloo Battlefield
AT THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO, NAPOLEON WAS FINALLY DEFEATED IN 1815: For anyone with a passion for history, a trip out to the Waterloo Battlefield is an opportunity to learn more about this famous battle almost 200 years ago. The Battle of Waterloo was fought at a site about 13 kms south of Brussels. It […]
How Antwerp Got its Name – The Antigoon Giant Legend
ANTWERP’S BRABO FOUNTAIN TELLS THE ANTIGOON GIANT LEGEND: When you visit the Grote Markt (main square) in Antwerp, the Brabo Fountain in the centre stands out. In front of the Town Hall (Stadhuis), the fountain includes a statue which, according to a legend, explains how the city of Antwerp got its name. The statue shows […]
Orval Abbey – Famous for its Trappist Beer
ORVAL ABBEY IS AN IMPRESSIVE CISTERCIAN MONASTERY IN THE GAUME REGION: Mention Orval, and beer lovers will immediately think of the prized Trappist beer. The Orval Abbey may be famous the world over for its beer, but the Abbey (Abbaye Notre-Dame d’Orval) site itself is an impressive place as we discovered during our visit. Orval […]
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