Renowned for a unique and diverse mix of people and languages, Belgium is culturally rich country. The cities of Belgium reflect the opulent history of the country. Distinct history, food, architecture and art make the country an exciting destination for a tourist. Bruges is the most attractive city in Belgium. Hailed as the 'Venice of the North', Bruges is a canal-laced city with traditional old merchant's houses. The city of Ghent is reputed for the marvelous waterside architecture and cathedral. The capital city of Brussels houses the nouveau architectural splendour and Antwerp is rich in medieval printing and culture.

Must see

The Cinquantenaire Museum is a major attraction of the country with a wealthy collection of 3,50,000 artefacts from all parts of the world. The Museum has many artefacts which are antique and of great archaeological significance. A few treasures from European and non-European civilization and Merovingian civilisation are preserved in the museum.

The Grand palace, located in Brussels houses the finest Baroque halls, pavement cafes and restaurants. Gravensteen, also called 'Count's Castle' is a major landmark in Ghent. The moats, turrets, battlements, instruments of torture, swords and arrow slits of the castle are vastly interesting to the visitor.

Hautes Fagnes Nature Reserve, a plateau comprising swampy heath, woods, moors, etc offer an ideal setting for an explorer. Walkers and cyclists throng this largest reserve in Belgium. Menin Gate is another prominent tourist spot reminding of the sad Ypres' Past.

Must buy

Belgium is famous worldwide for chocolates. The legendary tradition of chocolate-making has made the refinement process world famous. Antwerp can be a major stop in the Belgium itinerary for the fashion buffs since stylish and trendy designer clothing can be bought from the place. Antwerp is also famous for the array of impressive jewellery shops tourists can 'land' with some exquisite jewellery at great prices.

Must taste and Drink

Belgium is renowned for its cuisine and all kinds of cuisines are served in the restaurants of Belgium. Good seafood is the specialty of the Belgian cuisine. Mussels is a favorite and famous delicacy in the Belgian Cuisine. Apart from the local delicacies, German, Chinese, Greek, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Thai and Arabic cuisines are popular in Belgium restaurants. Belgium also offers innumerable varieties of beer to choose from for locals and tourists. Stella Artois, Duvel, Hoegaarden, VerbodenVrucht, Kriek, etc are a few famous varieties of beer available in the country.

Events

The Carnival de Binche, a major event in Belgium, is reputed for the fireworks and music. The carnival is listed in the world cultural heritage list by UNESCO. The Dour Festival is a music event that is celebrated as a European Alternative Music Event. In the month of July, Genste Feesten, a ten day-long street festival is celebrated in Ghent. The festival comprises music events, theatre and techno parties. Ommegang pageant, jazz festivals, film festivals, classical music extravaganzas, Kattern festival can make your Belgian itinerary eventful.

Ideal time to visit

When is Belgium at its climatic best? Summer is the ideal time to visit Belgium. A gamut of events awaits the tourists during this time like the carnival celebration. July and August are the months when most of the festivities happen in Belgium. A tourist can enjoy the sights of the city, partake in the events and get a taste of the local flavour during these months.

Facts

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