Paris1972-Versailles2003

And here I am to show you a pretty part of Brussels that me and my family enjoyed very much. This is a huge park with lots to see enough for several days really. It is in near city center and known to the  world; let me tell you a bit about the Cinquentenaire park  of Brussels. We actually came looking for the Auto and Aviation museums and then the rest is awesome too!

The Cinquentenaire park (50th park) was built around a city gate with three arches that the people of Brussels call the Cinquantenaire Arcades. Several museums surround it: the Army Museums, the Aviation Museum, the Automobile Museum, and the Royal Museums of Art and History which present vast collections of objects and reconstructions of sites from all continents. You can reach it on metro stations: Merode and Schuman.   The esplanade which extends in front of the Palais du Cinquantenaire is regularly used for the organization of events of all kinds: departure and arrival of the 20 km from Brussels a pedestrian race, environmental festival, bicycle festival, concerts, festivals, events, drive-in movie with open-air cinema in July and August. I have several posts on many of the museums here but this one is on the park

A bit of history I like

At the end of the 19C, newly independent Belgium was in full economic and industrial boom. King Leopold II, joined by the ruling bourgeoisie, has the will to equip Brussels with prestigious infrastructures, parks and monuments worthy of a capital. With the approach of the fiftieth anniversary of the 1830 revolution which led to Belgian independence, the choice of a site to organize the celebrations fell on the field of maneuvers of the Brussels garrison located on the territory of the town of Etterbeek in the axis of the rue de la Loi which rises in the historic district of Brussels. Annexed to the city of Brussels, the place is arranged for the jubilee of the fiftieth anniversary of Belgian independence in 1880.

A second exhibition and a Great International Science and Industry Competition were organized in 1888. the project of concentrating in one place all the knowledge of the nation in a Palace of the Cinquantenaire. It was built two buildings connected to each other by semicircular colonnades with in the center a temporary arcade with a single arc. The set is oriented on an axis, facing the perspective of the royal palace and the center of the city, and behind which begins the avenue de Tervueren, 10 km long, which the king will trace to connect the city to the castle and royal domain. The layout of the park is designed to accommodate the exhibitors’ pavilions.

For the 1897 World Fair, additional buildings were added, including the monumental glass halls placed on either side of a large courtyard or esplanade located behind the arcade. It was inaugurated in 1905 on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Belgium. The three arches of the same width and height form a sort of triumphal arch surmounted by an imposing bronze quadriga representing Brabant standing on a chariot drawn by four horses and which brandishes a flag. At the foot of the columns, the other eight provinces are represented.

I have written on some in my blog but in general these are the building and institutions in or around the park.

The Palaces of the Cinquantenaire: The north wing is occupied by the Army Museum. The northeast hall, by the Aviation Museum. The south wing is occupied by the Royal Museums of Art and History and the molding workshop, which traditionally perpetuates the techniques of reproduction of ancient works. The southeast hall is occupied by the Autoworld, automobile museum. The arcades of the Cinquantenaire. The Royal Institute for Artistic Heritage, avenue de la Renaissance. The Great Mosque and the Islamic Center, inaugurated in 1978, northwest corner. The Pavilion of human passions, one of the first buildings of Victor Horta, built in 1899 in a classical style to house the monumental bas relief of the sculptor Jef Lambeaux Les passions humanes 1886, which evokes the pleasures and misfortunes of humanity.

Further statues and sculptures are : The Belgian pioneers in the Congo, this large monument erected in 1921 with a sign placed next to it bears an inscription inspired by the paternalistic mentality of the time. It represents several groups of characters.  The Memorial to fallen airmen, northeast side. The Tournai tower or Beyaert tower, a curious building designed for the national Jubilee exhibition of 1880 to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Belgian independence. Built in 1880 in a pseudo-medieval style, it was intended to demonstrate the qualities of Tournai stone. The sculptures are many but my favorites are The mastiff of Ulm – bronze 1896 and Samson throwing foxes in the fields of the Philistines – stone 1878.

Indeed a wonderful park for walks and sightseeing galore you will have your hands full just in the Parc du Cinquentenaire park alone. It is recommended when in Brussels.

As usual from me some webpages to help you plan your trip here are

Tourist office of Brussels on the Cinquantenaire park

Environmental section of the city of Belgium on the Cinquantenaire park: Environmental Brussels on the Cinquantenaire park

There you go folks , a nice visit to the city of Brussels, one of our favorites in Europe. Hope you enjoy the post and do visit the park. And I thank you for reading.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!