Royal Museum of Fine Art, Antwerp
A remarkable and a diverse compilation of paintings from the 14th century are found in the Royal Museum of Fine Art in Antwerp. Aside from the outstanding collected masterpieces, the neoclassical layout of the museum is outstanding.
Waterloo
The deciding battle of Waterloo ended the Napoleonic Wars on June 18th in the year 1815. Napoleon I was overpowered by the Duke of Wellington. There are numerous war memorabilia to see, together with the Lion of Waterloo victory monument, a huge man-made hill with a 28-ton lion on the apex. For those who have the strength to climb 200 steps, the lion offers an imposing, majestic view of the surrounding countryside.
The Ypres War Memorials and the Flanders Battlefields
The town of Ypres is synonymous with the First World War. Speckled all through the neighbouring countryside are quiet memorials to the deceased of the 1st World War. One must not forget to pay a visit to the genuine dugout in Sanctuary Wood, the full-size monument of scenes from the War in the Hooge Crater Museum, and the trench of John McCrae where, he had penned the poem “In Flanders Fields”, etc. The most touching sites are the 170 British military cemeteries to be found around Ypres.
Tongeren
Tongeren is a very old city in Belgium. Initially, a chief Roman stronghold, the city was damaged twice, first, in the 4th century by Norsemen, and later by the Salian Franks in 881. The Gallo Roman Museum in the middle of the city, which was constructed on the vestiges of a massive, lavish Roman villa, offers a startling insight into the settlement and its ancient customs and civilization.
The Town of Spa
The city of Spa has been famous since the Roman times for its swimming baths. It became so popular, and the very word spa became associated with this place and is used for denoting pampering and relaxation in the English language. Beginning from 16th century, the upwardly mobile, affluent and more adventurous of the tourist set have frequented these Spas to be re-energized and recharged by the therapeutic powers of the areas waters and baths.
The Diamond Museum, Antwerp
Antwerp has been, from the beginning, the major centre for diamond commerce and trade in the famously lucrative jewellery industry. The world renowned ‘Antwerp cut’ and the highly developed systematic investigation are seen in this fascinating museum. There is a restructured nineteenth-century diamond and a jewel chamber in which we can peruse some precious pieces of jewellery. Every Saturday afternoon, one can observe a diamond-cutter working in its tightly secured confines.
Belgium, bordered by France, Luxembourg, Germany, the Netherlands and the North Sea, is easily accessible by train from nearly any point in this region of Europe. Include Belgium in your European itinerary; Belgium offers numerous activities and experiences for one to take part in, and the more adventurous world trekker may enjoy more than a few tourist hotspots to visit for people of all ages and interests and varying tastes.
