Belgium is a very small state in Western Europe. What language do its inhabitants speak? What is the state of Belgium? From this article we will learn about this country, as well as its features.

Belgium: polity

The name of the country comes from one Celtic tribe - the Belgians. The state received its independence from the Netherlands in 1830, but it was recognized only in 1839. Since then on political map world is an independent state of Belgium. The form of government of the country is constitutional. This means that the monarch has limited powers, for the most part he plays the role of a symbol and representative of the state, and not the role of ruler.

The name of the king of the state of Belgium, whose form of government is a monarchy, is Philippe Leopold Louis Maria (since 2013). The prime minister's name is Charles Michel. The king appoints the government, and the head of the party that wins the election becomes prime minister. The administrative-territorial structure of Belgium is federal.

Belgium is a member of NATO and the UN. The political center of Belgium is its capital Brussels. Here are the headquarters of some influential organizations such as NATO, the European Commission, EFTA.

Population and language

About eleven million people live in Belgium, most of them city dwellers. The country has one of the highest population densities among other European states.

It is dominated by two large ethnic groups: the Flemings and the Walloons. The Flemings make up about 60% of the population and live mainly in the northern provinces. Walloons live in the southern provinces, of which about 40%. They have French and these languages ​​are official.

The Germans are the largest group German in Belgium is also official. English is widely used as a colloquial language. In some regions, Lorraine, Walloon, Luxembourgish and Champagne are spoken.

Many immigrants from Italy, Morocco, DR Congo, Turkey and other countries live in the country.

Cuisine of Belgium

Belgian cuisine has absorbed the features of Latin and German cuisine. It is highly regarded in upscale restaurants. As you can remember, one of the talents of the famous literary character of Agatha Christie's detective novels was precisely culinary.

Fried mussels and fried meat with salad are national dishes. Popular Belgian dishes include waffles and fried potatoes. The Belgians think that the world owes them the invention of french fries; there are specialists in this field in almost all cities of Belgium.

The Kingdom of Belgium is also famous for its chocolate and beer. It is this country that is the ancestor of praline. The most famous chocolate brands are Godiva, Leonidas, Neuhaus, Côte d'Or, Guyian. About five hundred different brands of beer are produced here, many of which are over 500 years old. In addition to the usual varieties, you can try peach, apple, chocolate, etc. There is the headquarters and museum of the confederation of Belgian brewers in Brussels. The confederation was founded over 300 years ago.

Tourism and culture

Belgium ranks 21st in terms of tourism competitiveness. Every year it is visited by about seven million people, most of them come from neighboring countries.

Architecture fans visit Ghent, Brussels, Antwerp, Bruges. Here are well preserved examples of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, buildings in the Art Nouveau style. The most famous architect whose work can be seen in Belgium is Victor Horta.

Many visit the state for the sake of being especially famous during the Renaissance. Artists of different styles and trends worked in this country: romanticism, surrealism, symbolism, expressionism. Rubens lived in Antwerp. James Ersons, Constant Permeke, Rene Magritte were born and worked in these parts.

The Kingdom of Belgium is often visited in order to purchase diamonds and jewelry.

To visit this country, you must obtain a Schengen visa. is located on Shchipok Street, 11, building 1, near the metro stations "Serpukhovskaya", "Dobryninskaya" or "Paveletskaya".

• The name Brussels is translated as "city in the swamp" from the medieval version of the Dutch language.
• There were fewer battles in all of Europe than in Belgium.
• Upon reaching the age of majority, all citizens of the Kingdom of Belgium are required to vote.
• This country has a very high standard of living, so there is practically no emigration.
• In terms of the number of citizenships granted, Belgium is second only to Canada.
• We owe the invention of the saxophone to Belgium and Adolf Sax.
• Forced marriage is unacceptable and punishable by law.
• In 1605, the world's first newspapers were printed in Antwerp.
• Many dog ​​breeds are from here. For example, Malinois, Tervuren, Griffon.
• Fans of the unusual will especially like the hotel in the shape of a human intestine located in Belgium.
• Belgium ranks third in the world after the Netherlands and Japan in terms of the number of cars.

Conclusion

Amazing Belgium, whose form of government is named above, is one of the most prosperous countries in the world. It is called the birthplace of chocolate and lace, waffles and the saxophone were invented here, and the headquarters of world famous organizations are located in the capital.

Belgium is located in the northwest of Europe and borders France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. In the northwest it is washed by the North Sea.

Most of the country is flat, but abundantly dissected by uplands and low hilly ridges. Despite its small size, the country's territory is clearly divided into three natural landscape zones: a coastal low plain surrounded by dunes and dissected by polders in the northwest, a low central plateau (High Fenn) and the Ardennes Upland in the southeast of the country. Cultivated landscapes predominate. The highest point is the city of Botrange (694 m., Ardennes).

The total area of ​​the country is 30.5 thousand square meters. km.

Little Belgium boasts of its diverse landscape - in the north the dune landscapes of the seaside, in the central part - the green hilly plain, in the south - the green lowlands of the Ardennes.

The country has three official languages ​​- Flemish (close to Dutch, has several dialects), German and French (distinguished by characteristic local pronunciation and a large number of dialect words).

In many large cities and resort areas on the coast, English is almost fluent.

Population in Belgium divided into three major linguistic communities. North of the country Flanders speaks Dutch, South of Belgium - Walloon francophone.

Every tenth Belgian is bilingual, the majority of the population has some knowledge of a second language. About 1% of the Belgians are Germanic, the German community is concentrated in the eastern part of the province of Liege, in 9 communes in Saint-Vitus and Eupen.

Brussels is made up of 19 bilingual communes, although the French-speaking population predominates. In the 19th and early 20th centuries the life of the country was dominated by the French-speaking population.

Gradually, the Flemings achieved recognition as a separate ethnic community, first on their own lands, and then on a state scale. Flanders received the status of autonomy.
Most Belgians are Catholics. Although the number of parishioners in Walloni is declining, in Flanders and the Ardennes it remains approximately constant. Protestants live mainly in Brabant and Ghent. The Jewish community is concentrated in Brussels and Antwerp.

Political structure of Belgium

Federal constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the king. The legislature is a bicameral parliament (the House of Representatives and the Senate), legislative acts are formed jointly by the parliament and the monarch.

Administrative division - 3 regions (Flemish, Walloon and Brussels metropolitan region) and 10 provinces. The regions are endowed with extensive autonomous rights and are governed by local executive authorities (assemblies).

Capital of Belgium - Brussels- is also the capital of the region with its own government and parliament, the headquarters of the Council of Ministers of the European Community, NATO and other international organizations are located here.

The largest cities are Brussels (970 thousand), Antwerp (480 thousand), Ghent (234 thousand), Liege (201 thousand).

Belgium, located in Western Europe, is a country with a characteristic high level life, which is based on political and social stability, linguistic diversity and multinationality of the population.

The combination of these factors, combined with a highly developed infrastructure with an extensive international communication network, the availability of qualified consultants with international experience, contributed to the fact that Belgium was able to become the most important center of international financial activity.

An important aspect of obtaining a residence permit in any country is the legitimacy (legality) of this procedure from the standpoint of the legislation of both the country where the residence permit is obtained and the legislation of the country of which the person seeking to obtain a residence permit is a citizen.

When obtaining a residence permit, the applicant, who is the manager of the company, may incur additional costs associated with the services of lawyers, accountants, notaries. State duties and fees are 3.000-4.000 Euro.

When opening an account in a number of banks, a deposit is required. Its size can fluctuate on average from 1000 Euros.

Belgium is an ideal travel itinerary for tourists from disadvantaged countries who often come to holiday in Belgium. That is, from countries where a calm, measured, stable life is an unaffordable luxury even for very rich people. In Belgium, you forget about everyday fuss and stress, troubles, problems.

Most popular with tourists Antwerp. Here you should definitely visit the house-museum of Rubens. Magnificent Antwerp Zoo- one of the best in the world. Antwerp is a port city, it is highly recommended to visit its waterfront.

Vacation in Belgium is like a history lesson. The center of Brussels is similar to the centers of many ancient cities in Western Europe. It has preserved many medieval buildings, such as the Gothic town hall (XV century) and the cathedral (XIII - XV centuries). Here stands the famous mannequin statue of a pissing boy.

Official holidays and weekends in Belgium:

• January 1-2 - New Year.
• March 31-April 1 - Easter.
• May 1-2 - Spring and Labor Day.
• May 9 - Ascension of the Lord.
• May 19 - Holy Trinity Day.
• May 20 - Spirits Day.
• July 21 - King's Oath Day, National Remembrance Day.
• August 15 - Exaltation.
• September 27 - National holiday.
• November 1 - All Saints' Day.
• November 15 - Day of the Royal Dynasty, a national holiday.
• December 25 - Christmas.

In addition, the country has many beautiful holidays with interesting national traditions, celebrated no less widely.

The Belgians are distinguished by their buoyant cheerfulness, inborn love of life, sense of humor, as well as stubbornness and persistent unwillingness to express their opinions directly to their faces, because fate throughout their history has forced them to be secretive and patient.

Belgium cannot be classified as a resort country, but it also has places to relax in nature. The most famous resort in Belgium is Spa, located in the east of the kingdom, not far from Liege. In the city, known for its mineral water sources, in addition to balneological health centers, there is the "Museum of the City of Waters" and a gallery with works by artists who captured local landscapes.

Along the entire coast of the North Sea stretched sandy beaches about 70 km long with the resorts of Knokke, De Haan, Westende, Oostende. The swimming season lasts from mid-June to mid-September.

The most famous resort is Ostend(Oostende), its beaches and dunes are the perfect place to spend a hot day and a romantic evening. In the city aquarium you can see the underwater world of the North Sea. In Ostend, you can visit the Mercator sailboat, which has preserved all the historical details.

A little west of Ostenede is another resort Flemish coast- Middelkerk. The most north-eastern town of the coast - a resort of the highest class - Knokke-Heist. It is known for its special beaches, pine groves, terraces and gardens, as well as golf courses, swimming pools and casinos.

landscapes and animal world preserved in many nature reserves and national parks: Belcel, Haute-Fagnes, Kalmthout, Shevton, St. Hubert and bird sanctuary on the coast of Zwin.

Ardennes offer many places of recreation, for example, surrounded by rocks with beautiful grottoes Dinant, above which the mysterious walls of the citadel rise. Reserve St. Hubert, where on the square near the church of St. Giles you seem to find yourself in the time of the pilgrims. In winter it is a ski resort. In September, here, not far from the abbey, founded in the 7th century, the international Day of the hunter takes place (St. Hubert, the patron saint of hunting). The pride of Belgium is the large Arden forest on the border with Germany and Luxembourg. In the Ardennes, you can find many places of recreation surrounded by ancient castles and beautiful mountain landscapes.

The country is literally the focus of historical monuments and architectural structures, many of which are scattered throughout almost the entire territory of Belgium. In every city in Belgium there are ancient cathedrals or fortresses, castles or buildings of medieval guilds that keep the memory of the wealth of medieval commercial Flanders and the Walloon counties.

Brussels, the capital of ancient Brabant - the cultural and political center of the country and the European Community. The Belgians call the old part of the city "Pentagon", as it is surrounded by ring boulevards built on the site of old defensive structures. Most city tours start from the largest of the squares of the capital - the Grand Place (Grotemmarkt or Great Square), on which the old town hall Hotel de Ville is located with the famous weather vane (XV century), depicting St. Michael slaying the dragon There is also Brodhus with the Museum of the City of Brussels and a whole block of old buildings, each of which has its own name.

Not far from the Grand Place, on Etuve Street, there is the famous fountain, the "calling card of the city" - Mannequin Pis ("Manneken Pis", XVII century) and the Palace of Nations (parliament). To the west of the Grand Place is the Bourse (1873), one of the most prestigious scenes in Europe - Opera Monnet, Place Rogier, the Church of St. Catherine on the square of the same name, surrounded by old houses of the 17th-18th centuries, as well as picturesque, eternally crowded the people of the central boulevards. On the site of the old canal, just behind the church of St. Catherine, there is a beautiful pedestrian area with a delightful church of St. John the Baptist (17th century) and two small rectangular ponds surrounded by numerous fish restaurants.

One of the most famous historical sights of the city is the Royal Galleries of St. Hubert between the Marche-aux-Erbe and Ekuyer streets. This is the first architectural complex in Europe with covered galleries (1847), today surrounded by dozens of art salons, cafes, restaurants and theaters. No less popular with guests of the city are the Cathedral of St. Michael (XIII-XVI centuries) and the "Classic Quarter", on the territory of which such famous monuments as the Palace Square with the Royal Palace and the Palace of the Academies, the Royal Square, the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, the Kokelbergskaya the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, the Church of St. James and the huge Palace of Justice.

On a small Museum Square, indeed surrounded on all sides by museums, there is the palace of Charles of Lorraine and the famous "Failure" - an illuminated well in which some of the Museum's exhibits are exhibited contemporary art. To the south of the Place Royale are the Greater and Lesser Sablon quarters, where it is worth visiting the Egmont Palace (XVIII century), the Minimes Church (1715) and the beautiful Gothic church of Notre Dame de Victoire du Sablon (XVI century) .

The "Brussels Park" - the former hunting park of the royal dynasty, and today - a classic French-style park, accommodating several picturesque reservoirs, the Royal Palace, the Palace of Justice, the headquarters of the Brussels Bank Lambert, the Parliament complex (1780 d.), Park Theater and many beautiful landscaped areas.

In the southeastern, business part of the city, the quarter of the squares of Maria Louise and Ambiorix, as well as the Suan and Cambrai forests, are interesting. Thousands of tourists are attracted by the Cambrai Abbey (XIII-XVIII centuries, today the National Geographic Institute and the Cambrai Higher School of Fine Arts are located here) in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bIxelles Ponds, as well as the Cambrai Square and the De Poche Theater.

In the north-east of Brussels, the Botanical Garden (1829), a number of beautiful neoclassical buildings on Meridien Street and Ketele Square, the Sainte-Marie Church (1845), the old Malebec covered market (now the city concert hall is located here), "Turkish area" between the Rue Josafate and Filomenet, the churches of St. Mary and St. Henri, the Joseph Park and many beautiful buildings descending from the hill along the Rue Eugène Demoulder, Lambermont Boulevard and Houard-Amoire Avenue.

The western part of Brussels is famous for the Notre Dame de Laiken church and the small Laiken cemetery - a real museum of cemetery art, the Leopold II Palace (XVIII century) with the unique Royal Orangeries (XIX century), the Bruparc ensemble, as well as the famous Atomium - enlarged in several million times a model of an iron molecule, around which is the Mini-Europe park (area - 2.5 hectares), where you can see all the famous cathedrals of the Old World - from the Leaning Tower of Pisa to Big Ben. Nearby there is a tropical year-round swimming pool "Oceadium".

In Anderlecht Attract the attention of the Erasmus Museum of Rotterdam (XVI century) on Chapitre Street, Birsel Castle (XIV century), the royal castle of Gaasbek, Astrid Park and the famous Constant Vanden Stock stadium.

Among the numerous museums in Brussels, the most interesting are the Royal Museum of Fine Arts with an extensive collection of masterpieces of world art from Rubens to Magritte, the Municipal Museum in the building of the Royal Palace (XVI-XVIII centuries), the Royal Museum of the Army and military history, the private Automobile Museum in the "Centennial Park", the Museum of Classical Art with a magnificent collection of Flemish artists, the Museum of Modern Art, the Tool Museum, the Museum of Porcelain in the territory of the Royal Orangeries, the Museum of the Belgian Dynasty, the Royal Central African Museum (13 km east of the city) , Wax Museum, Horta Museum, Royal Museum of History and Art (one of the richest collections of Egyptian and ancient antiquities, Chinese and pre-Columbian art of America), Meunier Museum, Ixelles Small Museum, Wittoccian Book Museum, Aeronautics Museum, Museum of Musical Instruments (more than 6 thousand exhibits), Cantillon brewery and others.

Antwerp - main city province of the same name and the second largest port in Europe, as well as the world's largest center for diamond cutting. But many monuments of culture and antiquity are also concentrated here - the Royal Museum of Art, the Mayer van den Berg Museum ("Jewellery Museum") - one of the most interesting and richest museums in Antwerp, the Plantin-Moretus Museum, the Brabo fountain (XIX century), the Cathedral Our Lady, the Church of St. James and St. Charles Borromeo, the royal castle of Gaasbek, the oldest building of the city - the fortress of Sten (now the Maritime Museum), the Church of St. Charles and James, the Museum of Modern Art, the Sculpture Museum on Middelheim, Museums of Folk Art and Ethnography, Museum "Dwelling of Virgins", Museum of Folklore, Museum of Vleeshuis (Museum of Archeology and Applied Arts), Opera and Flanders Ballet, Diamond Museum and the famous Antwerp Zoo. Also, thousands of tourists are attracted by the Hoogstraat pedestrian street, the house of the nobleman Rokoks (XVII century), the central Grote Markt square, the picturesque embankment and the South Terrace of the Scheldt and Linkeruver (the left bank of the Scheldt, built up according to the Corbusier project).

For an art lover, Antwerp is primarily associated with the name of the great Peter Paul Rubens. Rubens lived in Antwerp most of his life. One of the main city shrines of Antwerp is Rubens' house. The works of Rubens can be seen in the famous Antwerp church - the Cathedral of Our Lady (Onse Live Vraukerk) and in many other churches in Antwerp, including the Church of St. Jacob, where the artist is buried.

The Royal Museum of Fine Arts is the largest art gallery in the city. It is based on paintings that once belonged to the guild of St. Luke - an association of artists founded in 1442. The Guild broke up in 1773, after which the paintings by Rubens, Jordans and other famous Dutch masters of the 16th-17th centuries, which were in its possession, were transferred to the museum. Part of the collection was removed from Antwerp during the French occupation of 1794-96, but returned to the museum after the fall of Napoleon.

In 1841, thanks to the invaluable donation of the former burgomaster Florent van Ertborn, the museum's collection was replenished with paintings by the so-called "Flemish Primitives" - representatives of the "golden age" of Dutch painting by van Eyck, van der Weyden, Hans Memling and the works of other ancient masters, including the genius of the Italian Renaissance Antonello da Messina.

The museum also presents Belgian artists of the New Age, among them the famous Rene Magritte.

Unlike most art galleries, the halls of the Royal Museum are distinguished not by numbers, but by letters. Room Q contains paintings by the most revered masters of 15th-century Netherlandish painting. There you can see two masterpieces by Jan van Eyck and Rogier van der Weyden's famous triptych "The Seven Sacraments". In the adjacent hall, the visitor will admire the creations of Hans Memling. Another room will please with a wonderful collection of paintings by the famous Antwerp artist of the 16th century. Quentin Masseys (the Belgians call him Metsys), and fans of the magnificent 17th century will undoubtedly spend a lot of time in the halls of Rubens and Van Dyck.

The Meir area houses many shopping establishments, as well as the ancient Royal Palace (XVIII century), the Borenbond tower - the first skyscraper in Belgium, the Stock Exchange, the churches of St. James (XVII century) and St. Augustine, the beautiful rotunda of the Burla theater and the Schunmarkt shoe market).

In the north of the old town, several old pools and St. Paul's Church are of interest. The southern quarter is famous for the beautiful squares of Leopold-Waalplats and Marnixplats, the esplanade of the Museum of Fine Arts, the Flemish and Walloon embankments, literally seething with cultural life. Here are art galleries, the Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Photography settled in an old grain warehouse on Löwenstraat.

The city has a great variety of restaurants, bars, pubs, nightclubs and other entertainment venues. Especially popular are the "entertainment district" of the Central Square and the railway station.

On the outskirts of Antwerp, the modern cultural complex "Singel", the Guyet House (designed by Corbusier) and the town hall Borgerhout with 47 bells on Morkensplein are interesting. There are two castles in Dern, one of which - Sterkhof - houses the Museum of Arts and Crafts, as well as one of the most beautiful parks in Belgium, famous for its ponds and centuries-old trees. There is an open-air museum in Middelheim Park, where landscape compositions and a whole exposition of modern sculpture are spread on a giant lawn. The ancient "Fort VII" (1860) has been turned into a natural park-reserve, inhabited by dozens of species of representatives of the local flora and fauna.

City Lear famous for its astronomical clock, the ancient Zimmer tower and the ring of fortifications of the 16th century. Nearby is the Kalmthout Nature Reserve (861 hectares), protecting a relict landscape of sand dunes ("lands") surrounded by moorlands and pine forests.

Ghent, the capital of East Flanders, ranks first in the country in terms of the number of magnificent old buildings.

Ghent is a real pearl of Flanders, and of the whole of Belgium, which carried the atmosphere and charm of the Middle Ages through the centuries. In the city center, buildings and streets from the times of the economic heyday of Flanders have been preserved to this day, to which it owed much to Ghent - this proud and rebellious city. Unlike Bruges, which has remained a medieval museum city to this day, Ghent lives and develops. This is the fourth largest city in Belgium (250 thousand inhabitants). It still retains its economic importance for Flanders to this day. Thanks to the important seaport, convenient location (in the center of the country), it was Ghent that became the venue for the well-known fair "Flanders Technology" (Flanders Technologies) on a regular basis. The Belgian State University is also located in the city.

The heart of the city is the reservoir, from which the Veldstraat departs. One of the symbols of the city is also located here - St. Michael's Bridge, thrown over the Lys Canal, as well as the watchtower and Lakenhalle (covered Cloth Market, XV century) on the Belforstraat enfilade, as well as the picturesque Grasli and Korenley embankments, built up with medieval guild buildings. The oldest quarter of Ghent, preserved almost in its original state - Patershol, built up with houses of the XVI-XVMI centuries, which today houses restaurants, antique shops and other commercial establishments.

The main attractions of Ghent are the Cathedral of St. Bavo (XII century) with murals by Van Eyck, the Church of St. Nicholas, the street of old houses Grasley, the Tower of the University Library (64 m.), St. Peter's Abbey (XVII century) on the slopes " mountains "Blandeinberg, the main square of the city - Vriydagmarkt ("Friday Market"), Van der Mers Palace (XVIII century), the Royal Palace on the Breidelstraat, surrounded by magnificent houses of the aristocracy Town Hall on Hoogpoort, the old fortified gateway Works, the castles of Count Philip ( XII century) and Gerard the Devil (XII century), Church of St. Jacob, old "beguinage" (convent of the order of beguines) of St. Elizabeth around the church of the same name, Church of St. Michael, Beiloke Abbey (XIV-XVIII centuries, now the Archaeological Museum is located here), the Museum of Modern Art with an extensive collection of "old Flemings" (XV-XVI centuries), a festive hall and the old printing house "Voruit" and the austere building of the Opera on Brabantdam.

Fans of wandering through museums will also find a lot of interesting things here - the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Modern Art, the Folklore Museum in the building of the old Kinderen-Alein Hospice, as well as the Veldstraat pedestrian street, where old houses and private mansions of the 18th century. interspersed with fashionable shops, as well as the banks of the Scheldt turned into magnificent gardens. Very close to the city are the castles of Laarne (XIII-XVII centuries), Ooidonk (XV-XVI centuries) and Vondelgem, intended to protect Ghent.

Bruges, the main city of West Flanders and a famous medieval trading center, is a great place to visit.

Thanks to the developed network of canals, Bruges is called the "Venice of the North", although in reality there is quite little in common between the Italian and Belgian cities. Venice was built on islands in the lagoon of the Adriatic Sea. And Bruges is located deeper inland, at least at the present time - as scientists believe that somewhere in the 5th century BC, the coast of Flanders was repeatedly flooded by the North Sea. When the sea receded, it left behind numerous branches, through which ships can reach the place where Bruges is located.

In the Middle Ages, during the "Golden Age" of Bruges, the path from the sea to the city was regularly expanded and cleared so that large merchant ships could bring their goods here. But starting from the 12th century, most of the cargo was left in the satellite cities - Damme and Shlus, two small medieval towns that exist to this day, where special excursions are organized.

Inside the city, a whole network of canals was created at the base of the Reye River, which allowed merchants to deliver their goods to the huge building of the Sea Hall (Water Halls) in the main market.

Now excursions on boats are organized along the canals of Bruges, vaguely reminiscent of Venetian galleys. Moreover, the honorable right to conduct these excursions belongs only to four dynasties of carriers, each of which has its own boats.

The richest in monuments and interesting part of the city is located between the station, the Main Square and the market. Of interest are the City Museum of Fine Arts (the famous Groninge Museum) and the Hans Memling Museum in the building of the Sint-Jans hospital, the old market square with buildings of the XIII century and a magnificent 83-meter watchtower (XIII-XV centuries), the large pedestrian Zand Square, the Cathedral of St. Salvator (XII-XIII centuries) with an extensive Cathedral Museum, the Gothic Church of Our Lady (122 m high, XIV-XV centuries), beguinage (XIII century) with Lake Minnewater ("lake of love"), churches of St. James, St. Walpurgis, St. Anne, St. Giles and Jerusalem, the Gruthuse Palace on Deiver Street, the Gothic ensemble of the Cloth Rows, the ancient city gates of Ezelpoort, Gentpoort and Smedenpoort, the Basilica of the Blood of Christ (XV century) and the Monastery of the Angels, the city hall (XIV century), the Palace of Justice (Palace of the Bruges Union) and the Saint-Saint Basilica on Burg Square.

The official name of the Groninge Museum is the City Museum of Fine Arts. However, his second name is much more popular - the Groninge Museum, associated not only with the nearby Groninge straat - Groninge Street, but also with the Groninge fields in the Belgian town of Kortrijk (Courtrey), where on July 11, 1302 the Flemish civil uprising utterly defeated the brilliant cavalry of the French king. The victory in this battle, later called the "Battle of the Golden Spurs" (700 golden spurs of the French knights were hung out as trophies in the Cathedral of Courtrai), is still a matter of national pride for the Flemings.

Starting from the 18th century, when the collection of the city museum began to take shape, and up to the present, the curators of the museum deliberately limit themselves to collecting paintings only by those artists who lived and worked in Bruges. Once the largest Flemish trading city, the residence of the court of the Dukes of Burgundy, Bruges can afford such a luxury: in the 15th century, it was there that the artistic center of the Netherlandish school of painting, which is now called the "Flemish primitivists" in the West.

The artists belonging to it are not as well known to Russian art lovers as, for example, the masters of the Italian Renaissance or French classicism, but this school is incomparable in its skill and innovation, strict detail, combined with spirituality.

Its first and greatest representative is Jan van Eyck (the legend credits him with the invention of oil paints). The Groninge Museum has two of his paintings: a portrait of the artist's wife, Margarethe van Eyck, and the famous Madonna of Canon van der Pale. The canon himself, the customer of the painting, is traditionally depicted in the painting in the venerable company of the Mother of God herself, as well as St. Domitian and St. George.

Every detail in this picture is a true miracle, whether it be the inlaid floor, the multi-colored velvet carpet at the feet of the Madonna, the chain mail of St. George, where not so much the metal itself is conveyed, but the glare of light on it.

Another great artist of the 15th century Dutch school is Hans Memling. In the museum you can see only one of his works - the altar of St. Christopher. But a few tens of meters from the Groninge Museum, in the chapel of the former hospital of St. John, now houses the Memling Museum, which houses six of his works created specifically for the hospital.

Among the masters of the "golden age" of Netherlandish painting, presented in the Groninge Museum, one should also name Gerard David and Hugo van der Goes. But it would be a big mistake to get carried away by big names and neglect the anonymous artists of Bruges of the 15th century - the level of the Dutch school of painting was so high in this era.

The art of the "Flemish Primitives" is without a doubt the most valuable part of the Groninge collection. However, a true connoisseur of painting will not be limited to it and will be rewarded with works of the Baroque and Classicism eras, as well as an interesting collection of the Belgian school of the 20th century - both the expressionists of the beginning of the century and the artists of the "Cobra movement" of its second half.

To unique objects historical heritage include the Lacemaking Center, the still working St. Janus Mill (1770), as well as 80 bridges over the picturesque canals and more than 2 thousand other attractions of the city.

The "hot city" of Liege is the largest and one of the oldest cities in Wallonia. Here, first of all, it is worth visiting St. Lambert Square, the Palace of the Prince-Bishops, the Museum of Walloon Life and the Museum of Walloon Art, see the Town Hall and the Church of St. James, as well as the ancient symbol of the independence of the city - Perron (fountain and column with four lions ), which is located on the Marchais Market Square.

No less interesting are the Church of St. Antoine, the Baroque Church of the Atonement, the ancient Frere-Miner monastery with many interesting museums, the Le Temple courtyard and the picturesque Dead Ends, the "Liege miracle" - baptismal fonts with biblical scenes in the Church of St. Bartholomew (XII century) , the church of St. Serve (XIII century), a big noisy flea market on the Bath embankment, the bridge of St. Leonard with the white and red house of Curtius, the church of Saint-Denis (XV century), the Cathedral of St. Paul on the Place Winav-d " Ile with the famous statue of the "Maid de Delcourt" and the oldest Lemonnier passage in Belgium (1839).It is worth visiting Place Isère with the building of the theater De la Place, the famous circus Diver in the en-Rothure lane, Frane bridge, Parc d'Avroy , the chapel of Holy Communion on the hill of St. Martin with 12 Jean Delcourt medallions, the Museum of Glass (over 9000 exhibits), the Museum of Religious Art and Mozan Art, the Museum of Weapons, the Ansembourg Museum, the Aquarium and Zoological Museum, the Ciancha Puppet Museum and dozens of other historical monuments .

For five centuries, the former capital of the Spanish Netherlands and Beethoven's birthplace, Mechelen (Malin), has been famous for its bells and architecture. One of the oldest buildings of the city is of interest here - Schepenhuis (1374), the Town Hall (XV-XVI centuries), the Cathedral of St. Rombout, the palace of Margaret of Austria - the Palace of Justice (XVI century), the Royal Lyceum, the Baroque Church of St. Peter , the palace of Margaret of York (now the city theater), the Church of St. John, which houses the famous triptych of Rubens "Adoration of the Magi", the Bishopric and Abbey of Saint-Tron, medieval shipyards, the Church of Our Lady of Hanswijk (1663), the Great Beguinage with a beautiful church of the 17th century, the City Museum (Museum of the Busleiden family, 1500), the Museum of Toys and Folklore, the Museum of Traditional Crafts, etc.

One of the leading tourist centers in Belgium is the town of Waterloo, the site of the famous battle between the Napoleonic army and Wellington's troops. All the sights of the city are "dedicated" to this event - Napoleon's headquarters, the Wellington Museum, Lion's Hill with the Visitor Center, Panorama, the Wax Museum and the Church of St. Joseph. No less interesting are the "city of churches" Tournai, ancient Mons, medieval Binche, in which the famous Carnival is now held, the birthplace of the Carolingian dynasty - Charleroi, the capital of Tudinia, the edge of ancient abbeys - Tuen, the most Old city countries - Tongeren, "who also saw Julius Caesar" Namur, "the tin capital of the country" - Hui, the famous balneological resort of Spa, the first capital of the Duchy of Brabant - Leuven, the old capital of imperial Flanders - Aalst, "the city of discarded cats" Ypres, "Flanders Texas" - Kortrijk and many other equally charming places.

The pride of the country Great Ardennes Forest on the border with Germany and Luxembourg, where travelers are waiting for the grotto of Neptune half an hour south of Charleroi, the grotto "Thousand and One Nights" near La Roche, the rock of the citadel of Dinant and many other picturesque places where, surrounded by almost virgin nature, there are also ancient monasteries

Belgium is small European country, located between the Netherlands from the north, Germany in the east, France and Luxembourg in the south and west, it is separated from the UK by a narrow strip of the North Sea. Here is the center of the intersection of political and financial interests, as well as the capital of the entire European Union - Brussels. Belgium is a highly developed and urbanized country with large cities, seaports of international importance, bound by railways and roads. A country that still preserves age-old folk traditions and customs. The country of museums, lace, chocolate and beer, and the ancient monuments and other sights of Belgium are known all over the world.

The history of Belgium dates back to the time when the local lands, the north of Gaul, were inhabited by the ancient Belgic tribes of Celtic origin. Julius Caesar, who captured this territory, called it Gallia Belgica, and for a long time it was in the possession of the Roman Empire, which left a great legacy in the culture and architecture of modern Belgium. Since then, Belgium has experienced different periods and various rulers.

The Kingdom of Belgium was officially proclaimed in 1830. And in 1831, all European powers, except for the Netherlands, declared the kingdom "an independent and eternally neutral state." In 1839, the Netherlands also recognized Belgium as an independent state. A constitutional monarchy was chosen as the state structure in the country.

As mentioned above, Brussels is not only the capital of Belgium, but also the capital of the entire United Europe: the headquarters of NATO and the European Union are located here. The population of Belgium has about 10 million inhabitants, in a relatively small area of ​​30.5 thousand square kilometers.

Belgium has three official languages: Flemish (Dutch used in Belgium), French and German. The state consists of different ethnic groups, represented by the Flemings, Walloons, French and Germans. The main religious denominations are Catholicism and Protestantism.

Belgium is a great place to travel to take an excursion into the history of Europe. What are Brussels and Bruges alone worth, where you can devote whole days to sightseeing. Belgium with its ancient and mysterious cities and provinces is fraught with many discoveries for an inquisitive traveler.

Current time in Brussels:
(UTC+1)

How to get there

The most logical way to get to Belgium is through Brussels.

By plane

The easiest way to get to Brussels from Russia is, of course, by plane, although the city is often included in many bus tours and tourist routes. But since bus tours and charter flights are variable and not always constant, it is worth talking about regular flights first of all.

In total, there are two international airports near the Belgian capital - the largest Brussels-Zaventhem (Brussels International Airport) 12 kilometers northeast of the city and Brussels-Charleroi in the city of Charleroi, which is 50 kilometers south of Brussels itself. Direct flights from Brussels International Airport to Moscow are operated by Aeroflot (to Sheremetyevo) and Brussels Airlines (to Domodedovo). From the airport to the city can be reached by bus 12 or 21 (at night), as well as by train, which in 20 minutes can deliver a passenger directly to the Central Station of the Belgian capital.

As mentioned above, Aeroflot and Brussels Airlines have direct flights from Moscow to Brussels. However, it makes sense for residents of other cities to take advantage of the many connecting flights. However, Muscovites can also use connecting flights - often such flights are cheaper than direct ones. Below we list the airlines on whose planes you can fly to Brussels (the cities of connections are indicated in brackets).

• Czech Airlines (Prague): Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov-on-Don, Sochi, Samara, Ufa, Perm.
• Lufthansa (Frankfurt am Main): Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara.
• Austrian Airlines (Vienna): Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar.
• Finnair (Helsinki
• AlItalia (Rome): Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg.
• Air France (Paris): Moscow, St. Petersburg.
• KLM (Amsterdam): Moscow, St. Petersburg.
• Air Malta (La Valletta): Moscow.
• Norwegian Airlines (Oslo): Moscow, St. Petersburg.
• SAS (Stockholm and Copenhagen): Moscow, St. Petersburg.
• Swiss (Zurich): Moscow, St. Petersburg.
• Air Baltic (Riga): Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad.
• Estonian Air (Tallinn): Moscow, St. Petersburg.
• Turkish Airlines (Istanbul): Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Rostov, Ufa, Sochi, Novosibirsk.
• Ukraine International Airlines (Kyiv): Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg.
• TAP Portugal (Lisbon): Moscow
• LOT (Warsaw): Moscow, St. Petersburg
• EasyJet (London, Manchester): Moscow
• British Airways (London): St. Petersburg

Find flights to Belgium

Brussels is connected with German cities by ICE and Thalys, with Dutch cities by Thalys and trains, with Swiss Zurich and Basel by EuroCity trains, and with Austrian ski resorts by .

The Fyra high-speed train between Brussels and Amsterdam is scheduled to be launched soon, with a travel time of just 1 hour and 46 minutes.

By car

By car, you can get to Brussels along seven main highways, which then flow into the city's main and secondary streets. Among them are the pan-European highways E40, E411 and E19 and the highways A12 and A201. Brussels, like Moscow, is surrounded by three transport rings - the largest ring road R0 ("Brussels ring"), as well as the Big and Small road rings. One of the features of the Brussels transport system is the presence of a huge number of roads transferred underground, so that today in the city you can drive through entire underground intersections.

By bus

The two largest bus stations in Brussels are located at the North and South railway stations. Regional buses go to Wallonia (company) and Flanders (company). International bus routes are operated by large companies and. Moreover, buses of the Ecolines company can reach Brussels directly from the Rizhsky railway station in Moscow. True, such a trip automatically means a lot of transfers and considerable financial expenses.

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Climate and weather in Belgium

Cities and regions

Regions of Belgium

The main one in the region is, of course, Brussels. You can read more about it.

Located in the south of Belgium, the Walloon region is reminiscent of the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, with enchanting landscapes and medieval castles built in the most unimaginable places. The spirit of magic and miracles hovers everywhere here, and the inhabitants of this region, the Walloons, will gladly tell you a lot of amazing and mysterious stories associated with Wallonia and will offer the most delicious ham in Belgium and the liveliest beer.

The capital of the Walloon region is the town of Namur, whose ancient citadel was a defensive fortification from enemy attacks. In Namur there is a cable car for exploring the area. In Wallonia, hiking and cycling are common in the picturesque surroundings and at the foot of the Ardennes mountains. You can see all the beauty and grandeur of the castles of Wallonia from a bird's eye view: for tourists, sightseeing flights are organized here in a large balloon. Here you can go climbing and golf, and lovers of antiquity can expect numerous sights, monuments of culture and history, fortresses and cathedrals. The city of Tournai is home to the ancient Notre Dame Cathedral, built in the Romanesque style and dating back to the 12th century. This province also includes the town of Spa, where the resort of the same name is located.

The province of Flanders is a cultural and historical region that is part of Holland and France. The Flemish Region of Belgium is part of Flanders. The most beautiful places of the province, which belonged to France in the ninth century, were famous for large textile enterprises, whose products were sold far beyond the borders of Flanders. In 1830, most of the lands of Flanders went to the kingdom of Belgium. The province has such wonderful cities as Antwerp, Ghent, Leuven, known for their amazing architecture and historical past.

Notable cities in Belgium

Everyone knows the name of the Belgian capital educated person, and in the last half century, the city, which is the de facto capital of the European Union and the headquarters of NATO, has been talked about for a huge number of reasons. By the way, the municipality of Brussels itself is not very large - only 148 thousand people live here, and it is one of the 19 municipalities that make up the Brussels metropolitan region. In essence, this is one city with a population of 1,830 thousand inhabitants. In addition, Brussels is the center of the French and Flemish Communities of Belgium.

This is the largest city in the country with a predominantly French-speaking population, although historically in the city the majority of residents communicated in Dutch. Today, on the streets of Brussels, all signs and signs are duplicated in both languages. The capital stands on the Senne River, but you can’t see it in the historical part - it was put through pipes during the industrialization that swept the city in the 19th century.

Most ancient city Belgium is the center of the settlement of the German tribe Tungry, who lived here during the time of the Roman Empire. In the Middle Ages, here was the center of the county of Capet and Hespengau. An old cozy town with a little less than 30 thousand inhabitants is located on a small river Eker. It was in this famous city in 57-54 BC that the Eburon rebellion took place, led by Ambiorikos, and a memorial monument was erected in his honor. A large number of architectural monuments of antiquity are concentrated in Tongeren, among which a special place is occupied by Basilica of Our Lady of Tongeren built in the 13th century. Until now, the ancient ruins of the walls that once reliably surrounded Tongeren have been preserved. The city has several museums where you can get acquainted with the richest collections of Tongeren antiquities of the Celtic-Roman period.

The city of Chime, located in the southwest of Wallonia, is both a city and a community of almost 1,000 people. Shime has a long history going back centuries.

In the Middle Ages, Chime was a county and belonged to noble counts, whose genealogy was conducted from the Croix family. In 1686 they were awarded the title of imperial princes. Over time, by 1806, the county fell into decline and was transferred to the ownership of the state under the control of the governor sent from Vienna. In 1824, the head of the Karaman-Rike clan inherited the title of Prince Karaman-shime, which is still inherited by descendants. The medieval castle of Chime, built at the end of the fifteenth century by the Croix family, has survived to this day, although its walls have suffered greatly over a long time. In 1977, as a result of constitutional reform, a modern community was formed, uniting fourteen small Belgian towns.

The most famous attraction of Shime is the monastery. Notre Dame de Scurmont, founded in 1850, which, in addition to holding religious services, produces live beer under the Shime brand.

This is another wonderful city-museum, where the main church life of Belgium is concentrated. Liège, which is the administrative center of the province of the same name, is located at the confluence of the Meuse and Ourthe rivers. During Roman rule, the city was called Leodius, and its history dates back to the distant 705, from the time of the death of Bishop Lambert, canonized.

In the Middle Ages, internecine wars took place here, Charles the Bold several times delivered devastating blows to Liege, and only starting from the 16th century did the city begin to flourish. Liege is the focus of attractions: cathedrals, museums of antiquities, churches.

Antwerp is the second city in Belgium after Brussels, which is the largest city in Flanders and the administrative center of the province of Antwerp. The city is located on both sides of the beautiful Scheldt River. The first historical references date back to the beginning of the 7th century. The Duke of Brabant made a great contribution to the development of Antwerp as a world trade center. Before the Eighty Years' War, Antwerp was the largest trading center in all of northern Europe. In 1531, after an active influx of gold from the New World, one of the first trading exchanges in the world opens here. By the 16th century, Antwerp had over 100,000 inhabitants. This period includes the construction of the Antwerp City Hall. In 1834, Antwerp was recognized by Belgium, from that time a new era of development began for the city. All the headquarters of the leading European banks are located here, international exhibitions and fairs are held here.

Antwerp is the diamond capital of Belgium, its workshops are located in the old Jewish quarter. There is also the Diamond Museum. There are countless historical and cultural monuments in Antwerp: the Royal Museum of Art, the Plantin-Moretus Museum, the Mayer Van Den Berg Museum, the Opera and the Flanders Ballet, the Brabo Fountain. Undoubtedly, it is worth visiting the modern cultural center "Singel". On the outskirts of Antwerp, in Derne, there is the Sterkhofe Castle, which houses the Museum of Arts and Crafts. Here you can wander and admire the magnificence of the most beautiful park, with its clean ponds and relict trees.

The capital of East Flanders - Ghent, with a population of more than 225 thousand people, is located on the Scheldt River. There is a seaport in Ghent, from which the picturesque Ghent-Terneuzen canal stretches, allowing ships to pass, to the Scheldt River. The city, which appeared in the Stone Age, is rich in sights and historical sites. The name of the city, translated from the Celtic "ganda", means "confluence". In the 7th century, the famous abbeys of St. Bavo and St. Peter were organized here.

During the late Middle Ages, Ghent prospered and played a leading role in the production and trade of textiles and cloth. In the XIII-XV centuries, the city was the second largest in Europe, art and culture were actively developing. As a result of the split, during the reformation period, Jesuits began to come to the camps of Protestants and Catholics in Ghent. They brought with them the Baroque style. In 1715, the construction of theaters and operas began. At the beginning of the 19th century, Ghent was already a fairly economically developed large city, thanks to the active mechanization of industry.

Ghent is a major educational center in Belgium: there are several specialized higher schools in various fields and a university, one of the oldest in the country.

In Ghent, at almost every step you can find a historical monument, fraught with the events of the past days. There is a reservoir here, from which the famous Velsdstraat begins, with the Korenley and Grasli embankments, and along which the main cultural attractions are located: the Fox Canal, the city watchtower, St. Michael's Bridge, the Lakenhalle cloth market and many others. Worthy of a visit is Gravensteen Castle, built by Philip of Alsace in 1180.

The city is famous for its theatres, operas and museums. Here you will find many cozy bars and cafes offering not only traditional Belgian dishes, but also dishes from other European cuisines. Ghent has always been famous for its bacon making. There is still a shop in which bacon was sold in the Middle Ages, now there is a restaurant here. Dried pork hams, the restaurant's specialty, are hung directly under the ceiling. Another excellent tasting dish is Ghent cheese with cumin, served with a very thick liqueur.

In the cafes and pubs of Ghent, it is customary to drink beer from unusual dishes that resemble a flask on a wooden stand. This way of drinking beer and dishes was invented by the enterprising innkeeper Pauvel Kwak, who lived in Ghent in the thirteenth century. Passing travelers often lamented that they could not drink beer on the road, and then the resourceful Powel Kwak came up with special glasses. This invention made it possible to enjoy fresh beer right in a moving carriage.

The student city of Leuven, located on the banks of the River Dale, is first mentioned in historical descriptions of the battles of the Vikings with the Franks in 891, when the Franks won the victory. Leuven is home to the oldest university in Belgium, founded in 1425. There is even a monument to the student, cast in bronze, which stands near the center of Leuven. As a result of conflicts between the Walloons and the Flemings, in 1968 the university was divided into two parts: one wing was given to the Flemings, and the other wing was assigned to the Walloons. The Flemish part is still in Leuven, while the Walloon part was moved to the city of Louvain-la-Neuve. In Leuven there is a beautiful city hall built in the Gothic style.

The well-known Stella Artois beer appeared in Leuven, in 1366, in the old “ Arthur's Brewery". Now this historical and architectural monument is one of the main attractions of Belgium. Here is the empire of beer, where tourists are offered various interesting excursions on the territory of the beer complex.

Brewing traditions in Belgium are so important that the local university has a special faculty, which is called the "Beer Academy". Every year Leuven hosts a popular competition to choose the best bartender. The competition is accompanied by a fun mass celebration. On the main beer square, Oude Markt, which becomes one continuous pub in the evening, you can meet beer connoisseurs from all over the world.

The city of Mechelen, mentioned in the annals in 1008, lies between Antwerp and Brussels and is also a municipality. Mechelen stands on the banks of the Dale River, which carries its waters measuredly. In ancient times, during the reign of the Roman Empire, this area, inhabited mainly by the Romans, was very swampy, in order to drain it, it was necessary to build numerous channels that formed a whole system of islands. Most of the canals in modern Mechelen have been replaced by pipes.

In the III-IV centuries, pagans came to Mechelen Germanic tribes. The monk Rumold, who later became a saint, founded the first monastery here. Thanks to Rumold, Christianity began to be practiced in Mechelen. In the fourteenth century, the city began to develop rapidly and flourish under the control of the Burgundian dukes. During the Middle Ages, Mechelen was already quite an influential city both in terms of textile trade and politically: in the fifteenth century, under Margaret of Austria, Mechelen was the capital of the Spanish Netherlands. However, over time, the city lost its former economic and political power, leaving behind a leading role in the religious life of Belgium. In 1559, Mechelen was proclaimed the center of the diocese. After the defeat of the Spanish troops, during the Eighty Years' War, the city was burned and plundered. After the end of the war, Mechelen was completely restored and turned into the most beautiful city in Belgium. First Railway Europe was introduced in 1835 in Mechelen.

The main attraction of Mechelen, among the abundance of cultural and architectural monuments, is the Cathedral of St. Rumold, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also noteworthy are the Church of St. John and the Church of Our Lady, and the city hall building is considered one of the most beautiful buildings.

Located in the south of Belgium, the city of Bouillon, also called Bouillon, belongs to the province of Luxembourg. Bouillon lies at the foot of the mountain, surrounded by unique nature. The city with a population of 5.5 thousand heifers is famous for the fact that the world-famous Bouillon Castle stands here, owned by Duke Gottfried, the fearless leader of the First Crusade in 1096. This castle is a huge defensive fortress, which still breathes cold and damp from the stone floors. The castle is one of the most imposing defensive buildings of the medieval period. Exciting jousting tournaments and restorations of medieval battles are held on the territory of the Bouillon Castle, which tourists can attend. Interesting competitions are also held here with trained birds - eagles, hawks, vultures, which can carry out various commands.

A monument to Duke Gottfried of Bouillon was erected on the central square of Bouillon. Walking along the streets of this cute and cozy town, you will get real pleasure from contemplating the old buildings and small picture houses, closely pressed to each other.

The ancient town of Malmedy, famous for its delicious cream and French fries, is also famous for its colorful carnival. Malmedy is located sixty kilometers from Liege and is considered to be its province. Not far from the town is Reinhardstein Castle, open to tourists. For a long time in Malmedy they have been engaged in the production of paper - an exposition at the local National Museum of Paper tells about this.

Malmedy is home to the Carnival Museum, which tells the story of this fun show. colorful carnival, lasting four days in a row, takes place annually before Lent. It is called Cwarmê in the local language and was celebrated for the first time in 1459. During the festival, ancient national characters walk through the city, dressed in colorful clothes and showing various scenes. The main figures are Bans Courtants and Haget: Bans is constantly chasing people in the streets, and Haget is trying to catch spectators and passers-by with long wooden tongs called hapes-tchar.

Malmedy hosts the Belgian Spa-Francorchamps Formula 1 Grand Prix, more precisely, it takes place in the last week of August between the cities of Stavelot, Malmedy and Francochamps.

Where to go in Belgium

Attractions

Museums and galleries

Entertainment

Parks and recreation areas

Transport

Shops and markets

Private guides in Belgium

Russian private guides will help you get acquainted with Belgium in more detail.
Registered on the Experts.Tourister.Ru project.

Movement around the country

Purchases

In addition to the gastronomic specialties of the country, Belgium is famous for its lace, which, in our opinion, is worth a closer look, and which is a stylish souvenir from Belgium.

Belgian lace

In the Belgian region of Flanders, beautiful lace is woven, famous all over the world. The art of lace-making originated in these parts at the end of the sixteenth century, during the economic and cultural heyday of Flanders. Belgian lace was very popular, all the royal courts preferred to decorate their robes with thin airy lace. The Flemings owned a special technology for making the thinnest thread, and each region of the province was distinguished by its unique weaving.

Antwerp lace is characterized by lace with floral motifs and vases, against the background of small six-pointed stars scattered over the canvas.

Raspberry-Mechelen lace is similar to Antwerp, but they are more elegant and thin, they were used mainly for finishing cuffs and nightgowns, for sewing jabots. Malinsky laces were especially popular.

Bruges lace is a continuous knitted braid, with a bizarre intricate pattern that is formed by connecting separate parts.

Brussels lace was considered the most expensive and luxurious, where separately made ornaments were connected against a background of tulle. These excellent laces were especially appreciated outside of Flanders, and were exported to England under the name angletter, in view of the ban on the import of Flemish lace to foggy Albion. Another type of Brussels lace was called “duchesse”, there was no background as such in them, and the ornaments were skillfully connected by weaving to each other.

Sales in Belgium

In Belgium, sales periods are regulated by law. The treasured days for shopping last exactly one month: from July 1 in summer and from January 3 in winter. Before that, it is useless to wait for discounts and budget prices from the shops of the capital of Belgium: violators who announced discounts before this time will face imposing fines.

In general, Brussels is quite an expensive city: in terms of prices, it can be compared with the nearby major cities - Paris, Amsterdam and Cologne. But during the sales period, it captures a real hype. Brussels shops open their doors from 9-10 am to 6 pm from Monday to Saturday. On Fridays, most of the city's shops are open until 8 or 9 pm, with the exception of large galleries and shopping centers.

Tax free in Belgium

If the purchase amount in one store in one day exceeded 125 EUR, it makes sense to use the VAT refund system. In Belgium, VAT is 21%. In order to get this money back, you need to ask the Tax Free store for a receipt, which should indicate the name of the goods, their price, including tax and the amount of the refund. At the last customs office at the exit from the EU, present the receipt and unpacked purchases to receive a customs stamp.

To receive money, you can:

• Present a check for payment in a Russian bank.
• Mail the check to your local Premier Tax Free office.
• Present the check for payment at one of the cash refund points in the EU.

If your visit to the country is limited only to its capital, you will spend the vast majority of time there, or you just planned shopping in the main city of Belgium, then our material will come in handy "Shopping in Brussels".

Connection

Economy

Where to stay

Despite the very small piece of Europe that Belgium occupies, there are a large number of hotels and hotel complexes of various levels on its territory. In Belgium there are famous hotels with world names, such as Hilton, Holiday Inn, Marriott and other famous and expensive hotels. In order to feel the real spirit of Belgium, to see its national traditions and color, it is best to stay in a small mini-hotel. In small and cozy hotels of this kind, with a reigning atmosphere of peace and regularity, you can feel at home with the Belgians.

In Belgium, you can rent a hotel room for just an hour, and for a longer time. A wide range of accommodation prices allows you to choose the most diverse, suitable specifically for you, the best options for housing and the services provided: there are rooms for 15 euros per day, and there are rooms for 17 thousand. The most budget rooms can be found in hostels located throughout the country.

Congress hotels are popular due to their convenient location. As a rule, they are located near large cities, administrative centers, international highways and airports.

The Kingdom of Belgium is a member of NATO, the UN and the EU. The population living in this territory is more than 10.5 million people. Further in the article we will tell you where Belgium is located, with what territories it borders, and also about its administrative unit and history.

General information

Belgium is a country with a constitutional parliamentary monarchy. In the form of an administrative-territorial structure, it is a federation. The currency of Belgium is the euro. The capital is the city of Brussels. The area of ​​Belgium is 30,528 sq. km. The name België (Dutch) comes from the ethnonym of the Celtic Belg tribe. Where is Belgium located? The federation is located in Western Europe. Belgium borders the Netherlands to the north, France to the west and south, Germany to the east, and Luxembourg to the southeast.

Brief historical background

In 54 BC. e. the territory in the northern part of Gaul (where Belgium is now) was conquered by the troops of Julius Caesar. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Franks (Germanic tribes) took over the province in the fifth century. They created their own kingdom in this territory. In the Middle Ages, België was part of the Duchy of Burgundy, and from 1556 to 1713 it was part of Spain. The separation of Belgian territory from the Netherlands began during the Eighty Years' War.

Since 1713 België has been referred to as the Austrian Netherlands. From 1792 to 1815 Belgium passed to France. Then, until 1830, it was part of the Netherlands. This year, on September 23rd, a revolution took place. As a result of the unrest, Belgium gained independence and became a neutral kingdom. Its ruler at that time was Leopold I.

Post-independence development

The economy of the future federation was formed quite intensively in the 19th century. The territory where Belgium is located became the first in continental Europe on which a railway was built. Railway tracks connected Brussels and Mechelen. AT late XIX century Belgium became a colonial country. In her possession from 1885 to 1908 was the country of the Congo, which is now a democratic republic. The active exploitation of the colony was one of the essential sources for the development of industry and replenishment of the capital of Belgium. During the First World War (it is called the "Great War"), the future federation suffered very badly. In one of the cities (Ypres), poison gas was even used.

In 1925, in connection with the conclusion of an agreement between the Netherlands and Belgium, the latter lost its neutrality. In addition, it was demilitarized During World War II, Belgium was captured by the Germans, and King Leopold III was deported to Germany. After the liberation of the territory, a new government was formed. The king was the head of state. In 2013, on the twenty-first of July, the coronation of Philip I took place. From the moment of its formation, Belgium has been a constitutional monarchy, and since 1980 it has also been a federal country.

Administrative division

There are two parallel systems in the country. The federation is divided into three regions. Of these, two, in turn, have their own provinces:

The Flemish Region includes:

• Antwerp.
• East Flanders.
• Limburg.
• West Flanders.
• Flemish Brabant.

The Walloon Region includes:

There is also the Brussels Capital Region. In addition, there are three language communities in Belgium. In the field of their jurisdiction - cultural issues, scientific, educational activities and sports. The leadership of the regions is involved in solving issues of the local economy, ecology, as well as in public works (for example, in road construction).

Belgium map

The entire territory is divided into three geographical areas. In the southeast - this is the Ardennes Upland, in the northwest - the coastal plain. The third part is the central plateau. The Low Belgium (coastal plain) is mostly polders and sand dunes. The first includes areas that are at risk of flooding. They are protected by dams or fields with special drainage channels arranged farther from the sea. Polders are characterized by high soil fertility. Between the western sections (Schelde and Lys) lies the Flemish Lowland. Behind it is Kempen (geographical area). The landscape in this area is mainly represented by meadows and coniferous forests, as well as corn fields.

central plateau

Middle Belgium lies between the valleys of the rivers Meuse and Sambre and Kempen. This is the central plateau. There are mostly clay plains, which gradually rise towards the valleys. This area has the most fertile soil in all of Belgium. The central plateau includes the province of Hainaut, the south of Limburg and the north of Liege. Most of the land here is occupied by meadows and arable land. Between them are hamlets (rural estates).

Ardennes highlands

High Belgium is characterized by an abundance of forests and a fairly low population density. The relief here is represented mainly by mountains. In this regard, the territory is not developed Agriculture. However, this region attracts a fairly large number of tourists. High Belgium begins from the valleys of the rivers Meuse and Sambre and stretches to the south. Immediately behind them lies Kondroz (geographical region). This territory is dominated by low hills, the height of which is no more than 300 m. High Belgium includes parts of the provinces of Liege, Emo and Namur. Behind them are high hills - the Ardennes. They are mostly covered with forest. Small villages located throughout the territory are connected by winding serpentine roads. In the Ardennes is the highest point in Belgium - Mount Botrange (694 m).

Ethnic composition

The population of the country is divided into two main groups. The first is the Flemings. They make up about 60% of all residents. About 40% are Walloons. The Flemings live in the five northern provinces. The official language in this area is Dutch. The inhabitants speak it and its many dialects. The Walloons inhabit the five southern provinces. They speak Walloon, French and some other languages. After the federation gained independence, it was a French-oriented region. First there was one official language of Belgium - French. However, it must be said that the Flemings always made up the majority of the population. But even in Flanders itself, for quite a long time, French was the only language of higher and secondary education.

At the end of the First World War, an active movement began for the emancipation of the Flemings. It developed into the so-called "language struggle". The movement achieved results only by the 60s of the twentieth century. In 1963, a set of laws was adopted that regulated the use of a particular language in official cases. By 1980, the second state language of Belgium, Dutch, was officially recognized. However, despite the successes achieved, tensions between the two main populations of the federation persist.

Political structure

As mentioned above, Belgium is a federation. The head of government is the prime minister. Today this post is held by Elio Di Rupo. Usually, the prime minister is the representative of the party that won the most votes in the election. The king appoints the government. Parliament also participates in the approval of its composition. According to the Constitution, linguistic parity must be respected in the government: 50% must be from the Dutch-speaking community, and 50% from the French-speaking group. The federal parliament consists of two chambers. The top one is the Senate. The lower one is the House of Representatives. Both of them are formed on the basis of direct general elections, which take place every 4 years. All residents of the country who have reached the age of 18 have the right to vote. There are 150 deputies in the House of Representatives and 71 in the Senate. Sometimes Belgium is called a double federation, since it is divided simultaneously into three linguistic communities and three regions. Almost all of them have their own government and parliament. The exception is the Flemish region and the Dutch-speaking community. By mutual agreement, power in them was united. As a result, Belgium has six parliaments and the same number of governments. The federal government coordinates the actions of the other five management structures. In addition, she is responsible for defense, foreign affairs, pensions, monetary and economic policy and other public issues.

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Country Description

The main wealth of Belgium is its cultural heritage: beautiful paintings by great artists, ancient castles of world importance, luxurious chocolates and a huge variety of beers. Belgium is a country where the cultures of northern Flemish and southern Walloon have merged. North and south speak different languages ​​and are skeptical cultural heritage each other, which does not prevent Belgium from being a diversified country. Perhaps, in no other country in Europe there are so many holidays arranged as in Belgium. The busiest months in Brussels are July and August. The festive carnival also marks the arrival of spring.

Geography

Lost between the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and France, Belgium is one of the tiny countries of Mother Europe. The north part of the country is flat plains, the south is dominated by the picturesque Ardennes, and the coastline of the North Sea is completely captured by fashionable resorts. And below, Belgium is criss-crossed with a network of water utilities.

Time

Behind Moscow for 2 hours.

Climate

The territory of Belgium is located in the temperate zone. The strong influence of the sea air masses of the Atlantic determines the oceanic climate, characterized by moderate temperatures. Sometimes winter can bring you dry cold and sunshine, but such weather always alternates with rainy and foggy periods. In summer, sunny weather is not guaranteed, but it can be hot. Even within such a small country, climate fluctuations are noticeable: between a very temperate coast and the Ardennes heights, the temperature difference is constantly within 5 ° C. The rainiest months are April and November. Even in summer, it is worth taking with you, in addition to an umbrella, a light raincoat. If you are going to travel in winter, warm clothes will not hurt: despite the usual zero temperature in January, dry frost can hit. Belgium has cool summers and fairly mild winters.

Language

Official languages: Dutch, French, German.

Religion

The Belgian constitution guarantees freedom of religion. Most believers are Catholics. Islam, Protestantism, Judaism, Anglicanism, Orthodoxy are also officially recognized.

Population

The population of Belgium is about 10,584,534 as of January 2007. Brussels has a population of 1,018,804 in 19 metropolitan district municipalities, two of which have over 100,000 inhabitants.

The two main groups that make up the country's population are the Flemings (about 60% of the population) and the Walloons (about 40% of the population). The Flemings live in the five northern provinces of Belgium (see Flanders) and speak Dutch and its many dialects (see Flemish). The Walloons live in the five southern provinces that make up Wallonia and speak French, Walloon and some other languages. After gaining independence, Belgium was a French-oriented state, and the only official language at first was French, although the Flemings always made up the majority of the population. Even in Flanders, French remained for a long time the only language of secondary and higher education.

Electricity

Electricity - 220 V, 50 Hz, plugs with two round pins.

Emergency Phones

Police - 101.
Rescue service and ambulance - 100.
Embassy of Russia in Belgium tel.: (32-2) 374-3400, 374-5738, 374-6886, 374-2613

Connection

In order to call Brussels from Russia, you need to dial 8-10-32-2 - the subscriber's number. 32 is the telephone code of Belgium, 2 is the code of Brussels. The cost of 1 minute of a call on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. is 15 rubles, at night from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. - 10 rubles. (Prices are the same for Moscow and St. Petersburg).

Currency exchange

The currency of Belgium is Belgian francs. One US dollar equals approximately 30 Belgian francs. Banks are open from Monday to Friday from 9.00-9.30 to 16.00-17.00 with an hour lunch break, and also in the evening until 18.00 once a week (each bank has its own day). Many currency exchange offices are open until 21.00-22.00, as well as on weekends. You can exchange currency at any bank, hotel, airport or train station (an additional tax is charged, the exchange rate is less favorable at night), as well as in private exchange offices (the rate is less profitable and commissions are higher).

Visa

To enter the Benelux countries, a Schengen visa is required. Visa processing time - from four working days.

Customs regulations

In Belgium, you can import duty-free up to 250 milliliters of eau de toilette or 50 milliliters of perfume, 1 camera and 12 films, 1 video camera and 6 films. The amount of duty-free import of souvenirs, fuel, wine and other goods - up to 430 euros for those traveling by air and by sea; up to 300 euros - by land. It is allowed to import duty-free no more than 40 cigarettes (or 10 cigars, or 20 cigarillos, or 50 g of tobacco), no more than 0.5 liters of drinks with a strength of up to 22% or more, as well as still wines, and no more than 2 liters of beer.

Holidays and non-working days

Belgium has many beautiful holidays with interesting national traditions. For example, the procession of the Holy Blood of Christ in Bruges. Once every two years, the Belgians spread a carpet of flowers on the central square of Brussels. This autumn, in September, this cobbled square was covered with a layer of soil, many bright flowers were planted in it, which turned out to be a complex whimsical ornament - a spectacle that invariably attracts the attention of tourists. This year in Malin - the city of bells and "raspberry ringing" - the procession of the Holy Virgin Mary will also take place. This theatrical performance with scenes from the Bible is dedicated to the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Christ. July 11: Battle of the Golden Spurs
July 21: Leopold I takes the oath. At 23.00 - fireworks on the roof of the Palace of the Academy.
27 September: Belgian Revolution
June 29 to July 1: Brussels commemorates the lavish festivities held in honor of Charles V in 1549. The Ommengang was once a civil and religious procession made up of people from all walks of life. Now this is one of the secular events, since characters are members of the famous families of the city. 20 July: Ghent festivities. Last a week.

Queen Elizabeth Music Competition. Arranged by nominations - violin, piano and vocals. In spring, Brussels turns into a city of music lovers.

Europalia Festival. This is an interdisciplinary festival that presents each year in autumn the culture of one particular nation.

Transport

Transport in Belgium is cheap and with a high level of comfort, which slightly compensates for the rather expensive and largely unreasonably high housing prices. Despite the huge bus network, renting a car is the best option for getting around Belgium. The whole country is covered by the railway, the structure of which is very well thought out and efficient. The fastest transport is intercity trains, followed by interregional and then local. In big cities such as Brussels and Antwerp, there is a subway and other types of public transport, including trams, etc. Taxis, which crowd at all central bus stations and airports, are expensive and operate exclusively on the meter. Cycling is popular on the northern plains, and most roads are equipped with additional lanes for cyclists. There are bicycle rentals at the railway stations. You can also hire a boat to travel along the rivers and canals.

Tips

Tipping is officially included in all bills, but in cafes and restaurants you can leave 5-10% of the bill for service.

The shops

Making purchases in Belgian stores marked with the Tax Free sign and receiving a special receipt, upon departure you can get back ~ 13% of the cost of the goods (when buying at least 125 euros).

National cuisine

Belgians love good food. The country has an abundance of restaurants from the most luxurious to those accessible to the general public, where you can taste the best national dishes. Typical Belgian dishes can be complemented by French cuisine. In Belgium, many cheeses are made and a large number of varieties of homemade cheese are sold in the markets. The national drink is beer, which has more than 300 varieties. Among them there is beer with the addition of cherry and raspberry juice. Also popular in Belgium is chocolate, which has been traditionally produced here for many years. The country has a huge number of restaurants for all tastes and any budget. At the same time, the number of bistros and cheap eateries is quite small. The most inexpensive way to "eat" is in the numerous cafes (in Flanders they are called "eetcafe"), each with its own cuisine, often quite refined, but inexpensive. At home and even in a restaurant, Belgians most often do not order a full meal, but eat quite simply, but a lot.

Attractions

Atomium- This is a model of the iron molecule built for the 1958 World Exhibition, enlarged 165 billion times, one of the attractions of Brussels. The atomium is the symbol of Belgium. Ride the elevator to a height of 122 meters for a panoramic view of Brussels. Mini Europe near the Atomium houses a grandiose collection of 1:25 scale models of more than 300 famous buildings and landmarks from 15 EU countries, including Big Ben and Vesuvius. From mid-July to mid-August, the models featured in the park are lit up until 11 pm on Fridays and weekend evenings.

The time of laying the Cathedral Cathedral of St. Rombout in Mechelen is shrouded in mystery. It is reliably known that the abbey in the city was founded in the 8th century by the Irish monk Rombout, who traveled around Europe with the aim of converting peoples to Christianity. He was canonized after his martyrdom. The decoration of the cathedral is the unfinished western tower, built between 1452 and 1578 according to the drawings of Vatier Culmans. Judging by the plans of the unfinished building, the tower was supposed to be crowned with a slender spire, rising to a height of 164 meters. existing tower has a height of 96 meters, and the absence of a spire does not make it less harmonious. Each element of the tower emphasizes its verticality and serves to create the impression of power and lightness at the same time, which gave rise to Vauban, a remarkable inventor military equipment under Louis XIV, call the tower the eighth wonder of the world.

Abbey Stavelot(XVI - XVII centuries) was once the center of monastic culture. Now it houses the town hall and two museums. In the treasury of the church of St. Sebastian, XVIII century, there is a silver reliquary with the relics of the blessed Remaclus (XIII century), decorated with gilding and enamel.

Itta, the widow of Pepin the Long, founded here around 650 together with her daughter, St. Gertrude, monastery. Parish Church of St. Gertrude The 11th century is an excellent example of the Ottonian Romanesque style in architecture. The monumental building with a main nave 102 meters long, two transverse aisles and two choirs has a heavily rebuilt Romanesque western portal with a tower. Above the western choir is the imperial hall with three majestic domes, and under the eastern choir is a crypt with a cross vault and the remains of five former churches. The tomb of St. Gertrude is also located here.

Zutleuw is a fabulously picturesque town, and St Leonard's Church is his gem. This church, 13th-16th centuries, is the only church in Belgium that survived the pogroms of the iconoclasts and the storms of the French Revolution.

Manneken Pis (Manneken Pis) It is considered one of the main attractions of Brussels.. This figurine, stolen and again restored many times, originated in the 17th century and serves as the embodiment of the rebellious spirit of the Brussels burghers. Manneken-Pis became a legendary character in Brussels, a hero whose fame spread beyond the borders of the country.

Museum of Natural Sciences located near the European Parliament, contains one of the world's finest collections of dinosaur skeletons. The highlight of the collection are the skeletons of 14 iguanodons, found in 1878 in the coal mines of Bernissart, believed to be about 120 million years old. There are also exhibitions of mammals, insects, tropical shells and a gallery of whales. This stunning museum additionally features a special exhibition on the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

Royal Museum of Fine Arts- one of the most important museum complexes in Belgium is located near the Royal Square. It combines two of the richest museums, with collections from the 14th century to the present day - the Museum of Antique and the Museum of Modern Art, opened in 1984. The Museum of Ancient Art is famous for its collection of Old Masters, with works by Rubens, Bouts and Memling, small collections of Brueghel the elder and younger. The passage will take you to the Museum of Modern Art, with its wonderful collection of Belgian surrealists. Here are the works of Picasso, Chagall and Henry Moore.

City Museum- built in the neo-Gothic style of the King's House - which, contrary to its name, was never the home of the king. The museum contains a variety of collections dedicated to the art and history of Brussels. On the ground floor, you can enjoy 16th and 17th century tapestries, porcelain, silver and stone sculptures. As you climb the beautiful wooden staircase, you will be immersed in the history of Brussels through old maps, prints and photographs. Among the most captivating exhibitions are old paintings and modern reconstructions. historical center cities. The museum's exposition also includes more than 650 costumes for the famous statue of Mannequin Pis.

Bouillon Castle- the oldest and most interesting of the medieval castles of Belgium of the 9th century. Its owner, Gottfried of Bouillon-V and the last of the line of the Dukes of Arden, sold the castle in order to head the first crusade to Jerusalem in 1096. Bouillon Castle is located in a small town of the same name in the Semois Valley. The castle is one of the most picturesque places in Belgium. In January, the castle is open only on weekends, in other months - every day. Napoleon III stayed here after his defeat at the Battle of Sedan. From the observation deck of the castle, an amazing panorama of the bend of the Semois River and the town opens up.

Sponten Castle, the oldest of the castles in Belgium, is located in a valley, on an island, in the middle of the leisurely Bock River. This medieval castle was built from the 12th to the 19th century. Experts consider it a model of fortified architecture; using it as an example, you can get acquainted with the changes in building styles - from the early Gothic to the mature Renaissance.

Grand Place- the most beautiful square in the world, the heart of Brussels since the Middle Ages. The development of the Grand Place began in 1402 with the building of the town hall Hotel de Ville, which occupies most of its side of the square and was mostly completed in 1480. The original tower, 91 meters high, was built from 1449 to 1455. Its spire is crowned with a weather vane in the shape of a five-meter copper figure of the Archangel Michael trampling on the devil. There are more than a hundred statues on the facade of the building, these are copies of ancient originals made in the last century. The interiors are richly decorated with Brussels wall hangings and paintings. Two fountains in the courtyard symbolize the two main rivers of Belgium - the Scheldt and the Meuse.

Resorts

Traveling to Belgium for a tourist begins, first of all, with Brussels- cultural and political center countries. Avenues and boulevards, the medieval center, old quarters, palaces and monuments, cozy cafes and, along with this, glass and concrete of administrative buildings - all this is Brussels.

Bruges- one of the most remarkable cities of West Flanders and Europe. This is a city of canals, which reflect houses with tiled roofs and bizarre bridges.

Capital city of East Flanders Ghent no less than Bruges, is the object of close attention of tourists. Nowhere else in Belgium are there so many magnificent old buildings.

The largest port in Belgium and the world's diamond center, where 70% of the world's diamond processing industry is concentrated, Antwerp famous for more than just that. The concentration of monuments of culture and antiquity is not inferior to other famous cities of Belgium.

Liege- most Big city Walloons with a thousand-year history. The center of Liege is a kind of architectural reserve and one of the largest pedestrian zones in Europe, 3 km long.