In Brussels you can go around in a tram, bus or the metro, but don’t forget to buy a city guide and transport route guide, which will help in finding directions. This is very important since people around you may not understand English, and the maps mounted at bus stops are in French and Flemish.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Europe, one of the cities on your must-see list should be Brussels. The fine blend of old and modern architecture makes it a cherished city.

The English call it Brussels, the French community of Belgium calls it Bruxelles while the Flemish (Dutch) inscribe it as Brussel. This bilingual city of the French and Dutch communities is the capital of Belgium and the centre of the European headquarters, with two lower houses of the booth called French Parliament and Flemish Parliament.

Brussels was founded in 580 AD on the Senne River as a very small town. Developed in the 11th century, it was one of the staging points of the road between Bruges and Cologne at the time. Presently, it boasts of an impressive railway network that connects it to the entire Europe and is linked by canal to the national network of inland waterways and the sea. Given its history of two world wars, the Roman period, and French and German invasions, Brussels has an interesting history which makes it a major attraction with tourists world over. The museums, sculptures, cathedrals, churches and modern and old architecture is a treat to explore and if one goes around the city it would be hard to believe that in the past the Spanish, Dutch, Germans, French and Romans had burned and bombarded the city at various stages of history. New buildings have mushroomed in every corner, yet the old ones have retained their aesthetics.

You can go around in a tram, bus or the metro, but don’t forget to buy a city guide and transport route guide, which will help in finding directions. This is very important since people around you may not understand English, and the maps mounted at bus stops are in French and Flemish.

For those interested in guided city tours, different packages are offered including guided walk tours. My preference was the guided walk of Brussels downtown and after losing my group inside the Royal museum of Arts and Design, I started to walk on my own by following the city map and managed to locate important sights. The guide also gave us a brief about the historical background of these sights. It is a good idea to go around the city with a map and a book if you have enough time.

Our group started walking from the European centre. The European Parliament building and other offices around this centre give Brussels a modern look. Consulates and embassies of various countries are also located in this area. After the old heritage was destroyed, many large tower blocks were constructed here. The railway station, Luxembourg, stands as a memoir of the past.

We turned around the Luxembourg square, straight to the main road which ends at the Royal Square (la Place Royal). This lies at Koudenberg / Coudenberg, a natural hill at the edge of the medieval city centre, famous for the Troon Metro stop. The Royal Palace was built on the site of the former Palace of the Duke of Brabant, which was burned down in 1731. The construction of the present Louis the XIV style architecture began in 1820 under King Guillaume and was modified in 1904 by King Leopold II. This is the most imposing monument of this area of the city. In front of the Palace is the equestrian statue of war hero surmounted on the horse waving a flag is Godefroid de Bouillon, the first king of Jerusalem.

Close to the place is the Cinquantenaire Park. This large quadrilateral Park is situated between the Royal Palace and the Palace of Nations. In 1880, this park was built to celebrate the 50th independence anniversary of the Belgian king Leopold II who had acquired the Congolese colony in Africa which supplied him with considerable financial possibilities. He decided to use a part of his new fortune to give Brussels the status of an important European city. One of his realisations was this Cinquantenaire Park with its imposing monuments.

The triumphal arch is what catches your eye at the Park. The arch was planned for world exhibition of 1880, but took longer than that to be completed. In 1880, only the basis of the columns had been constructed. During the exhibition, the rest of the arch was completed with wooden panels. The arch was finally completed in 1905, just in time for the 75th anniversary of the Belgian independence.

At the exit of the Park, at one end of the road, is a very tall column known as the Column of the Congress. This was erected in the memory of the national congress of Belgium, which wrote the constitution of 1831. At the top of the column is the statue of King Leopold I while at the foundation, four statues in the corners represent the freedom of press, education, association and worship which form the basic principles for the people and the state of Belgium

Churches have played a prominent role in the development of the early European society, and even today are an architectural beauty and a tourist attraction. The St. Michael, Gudule Cathedral and the Chapel of Our Lady Church will remain indelible in the minds of visitors. Several stained glass windows depict the story of the Blessed Sacrament with the richness of harmonious colours. Another remarkable work is the wooden sculptured Pulpit representing the banishment of Adam and Eve from Paradise.

The Royal Museum of Fine Arts is one of the world’s oldest neoclassical styles which houses paintings and sculptures. It was built by Balat between 1875 and 1885.

The façade of blue stone has four Corinthian columns topped by bronze statues representing painting, sculpture, architecture and music. This is not the only museum in the city; the other is the Museum of Musical Instrument. Established in 1872, this houses a remarkable collection of musical instruments of all times.

The past mingles well with present in this city of fantastic sights and sounds. Modernity is manifested in its markets and recreational sites like La Place du Jeu de Balle which is a Saturday and Sunday market. The Ilot Sacre is a food street situated near the galleries and the market place is well-known for its restaurants which serve lip-smacking food from various countries.