Paul and Judy are on the road again: Brussels

During our stay with Mark and Ines, and their daughters Feline and Aurelie, they kindly took us to places near their home village of Landegem. On Tuesday 22/7/14, after suitable advice on train ticketing practices, we set off on our own to savour the attractions of Brussels, capital of Belgium.

The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, Brussels
Building began in 1226; it was finally completed in 1519.

The fine looking organ was installed in 2000

Some of the beautiful stained glass windows.

In the church named after him, here is the archangel Michael

More beautiful glass

This shop was a real surprise. Whilst we enjoy our
icecream at home, but don't see why it made it to here.

Le Grand Plas (Plaza/Square) or Grote Markt (Dutch) is the impressive central square of Brussels. It is surrounded by historic guildhalls, the Town Hall, and the Breadhouse (French: Maison du Roi, Dutch: Broodhuis). This memorable landmark measuring approx 70 x 110 metres is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The City Hall was built between 1401 and 1455.
It's capped by a gold statue of St Michael.

There's plenty of gold around the square. The already
impressive building glistens in the sunlight.

Detail of some of the Guildhalls. Most were rebuilt
in the late 17th century after severe damage from French
artillery fire. In the late 18th century revolutionaries sacked
many. They were restored by the city in the late 19th century.

Gilded figure atop one of the Guildhalls

We returned to the great market square later in the day, so I'll put the remaining photos further down in the blog.

Belgians have a "sweet tooth" - chocolate,
praline, meringues and waffles abound. I
was happy to share their preferences.

We met this man when we sat at the next table
whilst watching the crowd assembling at one of
the smallest attractions in Brussels (see next pic).
He proclaimed himself as a "true man of Brussels",
born and bred there, and not a recent immigrant.

What are they all looking at? We had to wait until the
crowd moved away so we could approach and take our pictures.

Manneken Pis is a landmark small bronze sculpture in Brussels, depicting a naked little boy urinating into a fountain's basin. It was designed by Hiëronymus Duquesnoy the Elder and put in place in 1618 or 1619. (Wiki online encyclopedia). This statue dates from 1965. The original was stolen so many times that it is now locked away. There are at least five explanations behind the posture, and I can't give them all. "Mannekin Pis" ("the little figure peeing") has a society of friends who maintain his extensive wardrobe of hundreds of small costumes. He was naked when we saw him but he wears his costumes according to a schedule fixed to the railings. His costume changes are accompanied by ceremony and music from a brass band. Earlier in the month of our visit he'd worn a French costume (to signify Bastille Day) and had been sporting football colours during the World Cup. He certainly pulls a crowd, leaving the locals somewhat bemused.

Manneqin Pis (or Mannekepis for my friends in Bali, many of
whom know his image if not his story from the signboard of
"Mannekepis", a Belgian-French restaurant in Seminyak).

There he is in close up.

There he is again - taking aim at a drinker's shoe
in the small, old pub overlooking his statue.

The Jacques Brel centre (they don't call it a "museum"
had an interesting display depicting Brel's love-hate
relationship with his home country.

Parts of the old 13th century city wall and watch towers can still be seen.

The memorial to Belgians killed in "The Great War"
is on a hill overlooking the greater part of the city.

The peak of the monument

Figures at the base of the column. To the right, beneath
the humans you see the tribute to the army's dogs
who would pull small weapons. They were "low profile"

Banner advertising perhaps the most unusual museum I've heard of.

The web site for this museum states: "Unlike "destructive" self-help instructions for recovery from failed loves, the Museum offers a chance to overcome an emotional collapse through creation: by contributing to the Museum's collection." I've come across a variety of museums with unusual "themes" (eg "hammers" and "pork") but this is the most unexpected and unusual.

Church of our blessed lady of the Sablon
(Eglise Notre Dame du Sablon)
Begun 1435, building continued for centuries.

One of several fine windows in the Sablon church

A fine "Rose Window" at the Sablon church

The church organ, Notre-Dame du Sablon

Over-looking the church is the "Petit Sablon Square".

The Petit Sablon Square is a small fenced park across from Notre-Dame du Sablon. On each of the 4 large fence pillars is a statue depicting variously: a mason, a stone-cutter, a sculptor and a slate-quarry worker. Inside the park is a monument, of Flemish neo-renaissance style, by Fraikin in 1864. It represents the counts of Egmont and Hornes who were executed on the scaffold on 5 June 1568 because of their resistance to the Spanish tyranny. The monument was originally in the Grand Place at the place of their execution. It was moved here in 1879. Goethe wrote his play "Egmont" (1788) about Count Egmont, the patriot who was executed for resisting the rule of the Spanish Count of Alba. He chose not to flee but to stay, to resist, and so maintain his ideals

The memorial to the Counts of Egmont and Hornes.

One of the cluster of buildings within the "Palace Quarter"

Looking from the Palace Quarter across to the city centre

Coudenberg ("cold hill") is the former Royal Palace of Brussels.
The Royal Family live elsewhere but the business of royalty is done here.
The present facade is post-1900, but parts go back to early 19th century.
This palace sits on the old palace which grew around a stronghold from 1100.

A section of the palace complex which houses the old Royal &
Military Chapel. Inside are memorials listing some of the Great War
dead, including 4 members of the extended royal family.

Just below the crest of the hill on which the Palace Quarter
is situated is this splendid "ars nouveau" style building.

The view from the hill with the Palace Quarter
towards the prominent tower of the city hall.

The Brussels "Theatre Royal"

Just as our long walk around Brussels finished at the Grand Plas (excluding the short walk back to the railway station), this sample of our pictures of Brussels will also finish there. It deserves to be seen again as it is a magnificent piece of cultural and architectural heritage.

A section of the Grand Plas

The buildings at the right-hand end of
the photo immediately above this.

Decorations on a building facade

The Maison du Roi (King's House), or Broodhuis (Breadhouse).
The French call it the King's house but no king ever lived there.
Dutch speakers call it "Broodhuis" after the market it replaced.