Brussels, Belgium - Attractions & See

Located in southeast Brussels near the Sonian Forest, Lake Genval is a beautiful lake for leisure, recreation and romance. This picturesque lake in the heart of Brussels attracts people to marvel at its beauty, wildlife and plants. With its famous fountain, Lake Genval is a breathtaking destination to relax to the sound of the water in the summer. Around the lake are beautiful houses from the Belle Epoque - "Beautiful Era" - a period in European social history from the late 19th century to WWI characterized by optimism and discovery. One of these magnificent houses is Chateau du lac (Castle of the Lake), a five-star hotel and spa with breathtaking lake views.

One of hottest shopping and dining areas of Brussels, Avenue Louise features many international designer shops and trendy fashion boutiques - from Gucci to Prada and Louise Vuitton. One of one of the oldest thoroughfares Brussels, Avenue Louise is lined with prestigious shops clustered around the large department store Innovation. Lined with fashion and flavor, Avenue Louise is home to many hip cafes, restaurants, bars, and clubs.

Designed in 1862 by German architect Edouard Keilig,Bois de la Cambre is a beautiful urban park on the edge of the Sonian Forest in South Brussels, Belgium. The park features beautiful English-style gardens, with trees and bushes planted to intimate the randomness of nature, as well as a small lake with an island, called Robinson's island, which you can get to on the electric ferry. With its beautiful green spaces, Bois de la Cambre is the favorite parks for leisure activities in Brussels. Children can ride the ponies of the Brussels Poney Club.

The beautiful center square of Brussels, Grand Place is a symbol of the eclectic blend of architectural and artistic styles that characterizes the culture of Brussels. A UNESCO World Heritage, Grand Place is surrounded by stunning building, baroque and gothic halls, and the remarkable Brussels Town Hall, dating from the late 17th century. The architecture is a vivid illustration of social and cultural life of this significant political and commercial center. Known as Grote Market, the surrounding streets is a market lined with vendors and merchants. Every second August, the amazing square is filled with a million begonias in a stunning pattern. The square hosts many concerts throughout the year. Sit down at outside cafes and chocolatiers and enjoy Belgium's beer and chocolate.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Horta Museum is dedicated to the work of Belgian Art Nouveau architect Victor Horta. Housed in Horta's former house and atelier (1898) in the Brussels municipality of Saint-Gilles, the museum features stunning Art Nouveau interiors with a permanent display of art objects, furniture, and utensils designed by Horta, as well as documents related to his life. The museum also presents temporary exhibitions related to Horta and his art. Designed by Victor Horta, Maison Horta features his revolutionary Art Nouveau architecture of the late 19th century. Visit www.hortamuseum.be

Designed by architect Victor Horta, the Centre For Fine Arts in Brussels is a cultural explosion of art, music, theater, dance, cinema and education. The heart of Brussels artistic culture and spirit, Bozar features a wide range of artistic activities, art exhibitions, events, music festivals, concerts, films and dance performances. Horta's fusion of art nouveau and art deco, the eight-level palace of arts features exhibition spaces, concert halls, art studios and lecture rooms in one harmonious open space that radiates with light and beauty. For exhibitions and events,
visit www.bozar.be

Located at the Place Royale, in the heart of Brussels, Magritte Museum showcases the art of Rene Magritte, Belgium's loved surrealist. Opened in 2009, Musee Magritte houses of 250 masterpieces of the surrealist artist that shake the intellect. The collection consists of oils on canvas, drawings, gouaches, sculptures, painted objects, posters, music scores, vintage photographs and films produced by Magritte. His signature motifs of the female torso, bowler hats, and birds appear in favorite works including Sky Bird and Empire of Light. Magritte Museum lends insight into the artistic movements that shaped Brussels from the 1920s to the 1960s. Magritte's paintings have influenced pop artists including Andy Warhol. Visit www.musee-magritte-museum.be

A charming place for a weekend stroll, the chic Place du Grand-Sablon hosts one of Europe's most famous antique markets every weekend. Sablon Antique Market features beautiful antiques, treasures and mementos of the 1958 Exhibition. Highlighted by Notre-Dame du Sablon, an impressive gothic church, Grand Sablon is a beautiful square surrounded by cafes, restaurants and luxury boutiques. Popular with the arts community, the Sablon district is a trendy Mecca for arts and antiques in Brussels.

A bronze statue of a boy peeing into a fountain, Manneken Pis is a famous landmark in Brussels and a beloved symbol of irreverence for the people of the city. Cast in bronze by Jerome Duquesnoy in 1619, the tiny statue has been destroyed and restored over the centuries. A contemporary version of the statue stands in Brussels today, and is dressed in 600 costumes, kept in the King's House at the Grand Place. Visit www.mannekenpis.be

The 102-metre-tall Atomium is a steel and aluminum monument in Brussels and an international symbol of Europe's capital. Built for the 1958 Brussels World's Fair, the Atomium has 9 steel spheres connected by tubes that form the shape of an atom of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. The enclosed escalators connecting the spheres contain a permanent exhibition dedicated to Expo 58, changing exhibits of scientific theme, and public spaces. Visit the restaurant on the top sphere and enjoy panoramic views of Brussels. At night, the spheres are illuminated with 2,097 lights and put on a special show. Futuristic and universal, Atomium is the most popular attraction in Brussels. Visit www.atomium.be

The largest amusement park in Belgium, Walibi Theme Park is the ultimate adrenaline rush and the most popular family attraction in Wallonia. Located just south-east of Brussels, Walibi features over 50 hair-raising rollercoasters, wild rides, water slides and rivers and fun attractions, entertainment and shows. Plunge backwards into a stream on a runaway train in Calamity Mine, brave the Werewolf rollercoaster, and take a 77-metre free fall on the Dalton Terror. Enjoy a 4D experience with SpongBob or meet Walibi and his friends. Visit www.walibi.be

Housed in the charming farm of the castle La Hulpe, in beautiful Solvay Park just outside of Brussels, this museum features more than 500 works by the famous Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon. Fondation Folon displays watercolors, ink paintings, oil on canvas, drawings, engravings, sculpture, prints and posters, art objects and photos in a lively setting that creates a dialogue between the art and the poetic space that houses them. Music, film and optical effects brighten the exhibitions, activities and experiences. Visit www.fondationfolon.be

• Waterloo Battlefield - www.waterloo1815.be
• European Parliament - www.europarl.europa
• Square Congress Centre - www.square-brussels.com
• European Commission - www.ec.europa.eu
• Herge Museum - www.museeherge.com