Northeast Belgium
Founded in 1128, this abbey-church was majestically rebuilt after 1660 with a tall stone bell-tower and one of Belgium’s most breathtaking baroque interiors.
The star-burst altarpiece is a symphony of gilt-enhanced black and white marble and trumpet-bearing angels flutter around the central dome. On Friday evenings in July and August there's usually a concert at 8pm making great use of the fine acoustics.
The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb
29.29 MILES
Art enthusiasts swarm the Sint-Baafskathedraal to glimpse The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb (De Aanbidding van het Lams God), a lavish representation of…
19.72 MILES
The medieval building and 1622 courtyard garden alone would be worth a visit, but it's the world's oldest printing press, priceless manuscripts and…
6.29 MILES
This 1899 former department store is an art nouveau showpiece with a black facade aswirl with wrought iron and arched windows. The building contains the…
6.05 MILES
Brussels’ magnificent Grand Place is one of the world’s most unforgettable urban ensembles. Oddly hidden, the enclosed cobblestone square is only revealed…
6.29 MILES
Strap on a pair of headphones, then step on the automated floor panels in front of the precious instruments (including world instruments and Adolphe Sax’s…
7.57 MILES
The typically austere exterior doesn’t give much away, but Victor Horta’s former home (designed and built 1898–1901) is an art nouveau jewel. The…
7.62 MILES
One of Brussels’ overlooked architectural wonders, this splendid Napoleon III–style palace
21 MILES
The inventive and touchingly nostalgic Hergé Museum celebrates the multitalented creator of comic-strip hero Tintin with an engaging, inventive and…
1.63 MILES
Belgium’s 93-hectare national botanic garden is located in the village of Meise, 12km north of Brussels. Home to 18,000 plant species, it’s based around…
2.75 MILES
Worth seeing in combination with the Atomium, ADAM features a surprisingly intriguing collection of classic plastic: the 1965 Universale, which was the…
2.76 MILES
The distinctive 1930 art-deco Palais du Centenaire features a pyramid of terraced tiers capped by statues.
4. Musées d’Extrême-Orient
2.77 MILES
Closed at the time of writing for restoration, so check in advance before visiting. A pair of East Asian pagodas form the key attractions here. Both are…
2.77 MILES
The Pavillon Chinois is a Léopold II leftover, built after he saw similar at the 1890 Paris World's Fair. It is a gloriously glittering structure and…
2.83 MILES
On the edge of the Domaine Royal, Tour Japonaise is used for temporary Japanese art exhibitions. Closed for restoration at the time of writing.
2.95 MILES
The space-age Atomium looms 102m over north Brussels’ suburbia, resembling a steel alien from a '60s Hollywood movie. It consists of nine house-sized…
2.98 MILES
A residence of the Belgian royal family, the eighteenth-century villa is not open to the public.