The center of Europe has a lot to offer as a travel destination. I recently spent a week here travelling from the Capital Brussels to the fairytale city of Bruges and eating my way thorough a mountain of waffles on the way. The relaxed atmosphere and way of life this country is an ideal get away. The narrow winding streets of Bruges and Gent, the fairytale houses and rich history means there is plenty to do.
The Brussels Waffle
Brussels
We spent the day of our arrival and departure in the capital of Flanders, Belgium and Europe. You can stroll around the historic city centre, see the Palace, take a break in one of the many beautiful parks, visit museums and eat Frites and Waffles near the Grand Platz.
What immediately struck me about Brussels was the amazing Street Art. Before the trip I had completely forgotten about the rich history of Art, in particular Comic Book Art that this country was famous for.
Brussels Town Hall Bell Tower
The Bell Tower, which would signal the beginning and end of the working day, is a distinctive feature of each Belgian town we visited. The cities and towns here date back to Medieval times and for history lovers there is lots to see. The medieval Gavensteen Castle in Bruges was one of the best Castles I have visited.
Gent
This small student town a short train ride from Brussels was one of the highlights of the trip. This city rich in Art and history was the perfect place to take a break for a few days to relax.
On Arrival impressive decor of The Train Station was a sign as to why this town housed a piece of art that was number 1 on Hitlers most wanted list during the war.
The Street Art in all of Belgium was quite impressive, Gent is Particular had something very special to offer.
Bruges
I first heard about Bruges with the Film In Bruges from 2008. If you haven't seen it, this dark comedy is worth a watch.
Our First Glimpse of the Historic 115m high Notre Dame Church, home to Michelangelo's Masterpiece Madonna and Child.
You could spend days just strolling around this beautiful town, from the lake of Tears to the Belltower canals, churches, museums, bars. This town has somehting for everyone and practically everywhere you turn there is a postcard perfect picture waiting to be taken.
Tintin & The Smurfs
Don't forget that Belgium is the birthplace of some of the great cartoon characters of the 20th century. There are some wonderful museums in Brussels where you can explore the history of this art form.
More to come
Follow me for a more in depth tour of each of these cities in the coming days. Brussels and Bruges had a lot of sights to visit but Gent had some hidden treasures which will take several posts to cover.
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