In our trips to Belgium, we criss cross the country by car on family trips, Many times using my wife’s brother home as a base. However, the two cities we have been as family vacation has been Brussels and Bruges, a wonderful one two punch of family memores forever, I have several posts on them in my blog, but decided to give a more personal touch and put up some older family pictures about the visit to these cities, Therefore, here is my personal memories of Belgium !!! Hope you enjoy it as I.
The Corné Port-Royal in the Galerie de la Reine 5 is a Art Nouveau style building chosen in homage to Victor Horta. In the shop, you will find the curvilinear forms famous in the 1900s, the lines with the dramatic curves inspired by the crack of a whip decorate the furniture and the chocolate counter. A large stained glass dome and windows, typical of Art Nouveau, where floral designs combine with the lighting effects to create a warm and authentic atmosphere. The Art Nouveau style combines particulary well with the prestigious setting of the St Hubert Gallery. And of course, the chocolates are to kill for sublime !! My dear late wife Martine!
The Grand-Place is bordered by the guild houses, the City/ Town Hall and the King’s House. Victor Hugo considered it one of the most beautiful squares in the world , The facades of the 19C are not always the exact of their construction after 1695. My dear late wife Martine, mom Gladys, dad Elio, and grandmother Fourré of my wife
The Mont des Arts is an urban complex comprising the Royal Library of Belgium, the General Archives of the Kingdom, the Square congress center and a garden located between the royal district and the center district below. The current configuration dates from its refitting between 1954 and 1965. My dear late wife Martine and 2 of my sons.
The Passage du Nord is an eclectic-style building built in 1881-1882 following vaulting work on the Senne and the creation of the Boulevards du Centre. The Passage du Nord is a shopping arcade that connects Boulevard Adolphe Max to Rue Neuve. It begins at the beginning of Boulevard Adolphe Max, between Place de Brouckère and the Maison des Chats. My dear late Dad Elio and me !
The Rue Defacqz crosses the territories of Brussels, Ixelles and Saint-Gilles. Straight and perpendicular to Avenue Louise, it connects the avenue to Place Paul Janson. The buildings numbered Nos 1 and 2 to 24, making up the section between avenue Louise and rue de Livourne, are located on the territory of Brussels. My dear late parents Elio and Gladys!
One time we needed a bit more time to cover two cities so we stayed at the Novotel Centrum Hotel at Katelijnestraat 65B, Brugge, The hotel is within walking distance of the chocolate, beer and diamond museums. The city center is full of shops. has a garden with a large terrace overlooking the seasonal outdoor swimming pool. Bruges’ central market square is just 850 meters away. The train station is 1 km away.It was great and allowed us to walk all over ! My boys!
The Restaurant ‘t Schrijverke located at Gruuthusestraat 4 in the heart of the historical center of Bruges ,It was a pleasant find and a memorable spot, We took an extended stayed in Bruges and other than a hotel we needed to eat on site so walking as usual we end up with this restaurant, It was sublime and would love to be back eventually, The restaurant is named after the beautiful poem by Guido Gezelle which statue shows off in front of the restaurant. The restaurant was founded in 1970. Brother and sister Linda and Patriek Couckuyt joined forces in 1990 and continued the restaurant as the second generation. They take care after the customers in a housy environment. Since 2018, the 3rd generation has also been represented by Simon Couckuyt, who stands behind the stove.My dear late Martine and my boys!
When the lords of Gruuthuse built their city palace in the 15 is certain that this strip of road became the Gruuthusestraat from at least half of the 19C. Here you can see in the picture the Notre Dame Church done in the Gothic style. It was built in the 13-14C The church has a tower 122 meters high (not counting the cross), whose spire alone measures 54 meters, making it one of the tallest brick buildings in the world. You see ahead the Gruuthuse Museum is located in a former 15C mansion of the Lords of Gruuthuse, and has the most varied collection of applied or decorative arts in Bruges from the 13C to the 19C. One of my son’s and me !!
The Grand-Place is a square, located in the heart of the city center covers an area of 1 hectare. To the south of the Grote Markt is the city’s main monument, the Belfry of Brugge, The Belfry is a high medieval tower surmounting the Cloth Hall on the Grote Markt , This civil monument, built in several stages from the 13C to 15C, was the symbol of the municipal independence of Bruges, an important commercial city in the Middle Ages. The Belfry, 83 meters high, has been tilted slightly to the left for more than four centuries. To reach the top you have to climb 366 steps. The chime has 47 small and large bells. My boys!!!
The Brussels tourist office : https://www.visit.brussels/en/visitors/what-to-do
The Bruges tourist office: https://www.visitbruges.be/en
There you go folks, a wonderful memorable family trips of Belgium forever, I am glad to have these personal pictures in my blog , it will make me remember all these wonderful moments together even more. Again, hope you enjoy them as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 