Great Cities of Europe

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ Great Cities of Europe / Great Cities of Europe - Disc 1.iso / cwrsrc / brussels.txt < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1995-12-05 | 11KB | 364 lines

<F16>Brussels</F> <L7><F14>Basic Information </F> Documents Required: United States citizens need a passport. Drivers must be able to show a national driver's license and a vehicle registration certificate. American Consulate: 27 Boulevard du Regent, 02/ 513-38-30. Currency: The Belgian franc (BF, also seen as FB or simply F) is the basic unit. Belgium and Luxembourg have a monetary union, and coins and bank notes are interchangeable. Major credit cards are accepted throughout Brussels. Banks: Most banks are open 9A.M.- 4P.M. Monday to Friday. Customs: Duty-free limits for visitors entering Belgium from the United States: two liters of table wine and one liter of spirits, or two liters of sparkling wine, 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of rolling tobacco, and 50 grams of perfume. There are no restrictions on what may be taken out of the country. Climate: The best times to visit Brussels are in the spring (April and May) when temperatures hover around 60F and in autumn (September and October). The weather is variable throughout the year, but rain is consistent across all seasons. Tipping: In restaurants and hotels, tax and service are included in the bill. Tips are not normally left except to indicate particular satisfaction. Tourist Information: The Office Belge du Tourisme is at 61 Rue du Marche aux Herbes, B-1000, Bruxelles; 02/ 512-3030. Getting There: By air: Zaventem Airport, 02/ 722-111, is nine miles northeast of the city. Belgium's national airline, Sabena, and other major carriers land here. By train: Belgian railways has a TGV terminal at the Gare du Midi. There is direct train service to Brussels from Amsterdam, Cologne and Paris. By sea: The main sea route from the U.K. is the Dover to Oostende crossing, run by P&O Ferries (reservations in UK 1-71/ 233-6480 ). The crossing takes 4 hours. Getting Around: Brussels has an integrated system of metros, trams, and buses run by the public transport authority, Stib. All Stib buses and trams are painted blue and yellow. Most routes operate between 5.30A.M. and midnight; schedules are sporadic after 6P.M. and on weekends. A one-way ticket (carte α un voyage) can be bought in metro stations, and from the bus or tram driver. The ticket is valid on all public transport for one hour. A cheaper option is to buy a 10-journey ticket. Or , buy a carte 24 heures, which gives unlimited travel on the public transport network for one day. By metro: Fast, clean, and safe trains. They provide rapid access to many of the outer suburbs. By tram: Slower than the metros, but you can sight-see while you travel.. The most spectacular tram ride is on #44, which runs through a forest to Tervuren, a suburb. By bus: Convenient for reaching suburbs, and provide faster links than trams. By taxi: Hailed at taxi stands in the city center or ordered by telephone. All taxis have meters; the fare includes taxes and tips, but it is customary to give the driver an extra 5 percent. By train: The rail network in Belgium ranges from efficient to out-dated. The fastest trains are ICs, which link major international cities. Postal and Telephone Service: Mailboxes and post offices are located throughout the city, as are public phones. To call Belgium from the United States, dial 011-32, then the city code (Brussels is 2) and local number. From Brussels, dial 00-1, then the area code and local number to reach the United States. Public Holidays: January 1, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, Labor Day (May 1), Ascension (sixth Thursday after Easter), Whit Sunday (seventh Sunday after Easter), Whit Monday, Fete Nationale (July 21), Assumption (August 15), All Saints' Day (November 1), Armistice (November 11), Christmas Day. Electric Current: The electric current is 220V. Sockets are the mainland Europe two-prong type. TIME LINE Beginnings of the City 966 First mention of Brussels in an official document. 977 Settlement falls to the dukes of Lower Lotharingia. 1041 Royal residence moved to Coudenberg (now in the Netherlands). 1200-1300 First fortified wall built, and merchants establish a marketplace. 1312 Power of the bourgeoisie confirmed by the Charter of Cortenberg. Growth of the City 1402 Work starts on the Hotel de Ville. 1531 Netherlands' seat of government transferred to Brussels. 1695 War of the Grand Alliance. The city is bombarded by France for 36 hours. 1713 Treaty of Utrecht ends the War of Spanish Succession and Belgium is awarded to the Hapsburgs. 1815 The Battle of Waterloo. 1830 Belgium revolts against the Dutch and gains independence. 1880 Jubilee Exhibition. World Wars 1914 Germany enters the city on August 20. Brussels citizens resist the invasion, and many are killed. 1940-1944 Brussels is occupied by Germany. Post-War Years 1958 World Fair held in Brussels. 1959 Brussels becomes the headquarters of the EEC. 1967 NATO is based in the city. </L7> <L6><F14>Hotels</F> Metropole $$$ 31 Place de Brouckere 02/ 218-0220 A grand 19th-century hotel. SAS Royal $$$ 47 Rue du Fosse-aux-Loups 02/ 219-2828 One of the best business hotels in the city. Manos Stephanie $$ 28 Chaussee de Charleroi 02/ 539-0250 An intimate hotel furnished with antiques. New Siru $$ 1 Place Rogier 02/ 217-7580 Art Deco building from the 1930's. Arlequin $ 16 Petite rue des Bouchers 02/ 514-1615 An unpretentious find in the heart of the old town. La Madeleine $ 20-22 Rue de la Montagne 02/ 513-2973 Inexpensive and friendly. <F14>Restaurants </F> Comme Chez Soi $$$ 23 Place Rouppe 02/ 512-2921 Classic French, worth the price and the wait. Maison Du Cygne $$$ 9 Grand-Place 02/ 511-8244 Traditional food in one of Europe's most beautiful squares. Brasserie De La Roue D'or $$ 26 Rue des Chapeliers 02/ 514-2554 Perhaps the best bistro in Brussels. Jaques $ 44 Quai aux Briques 02/ 513-2762 Seafood. Expect crowds and communal bench seating. Au Vieux Bruxelles $ 35 Rue St-Boniface 02/ 513-0181 Known for its mussels. </L6> <L1><F14>Sites</F> Hotel de Ville Grand-Place One of the grandest buildings in Brussels. City Council still meets here. Manneken-Pis Rue de l'Etuve Since 1620, visitors to this nude statue have left articles of clothing to cover him. St. Michel Rue de la Montagne Gothic cathedral that is the national church. </L6> <L2><F14>Museums And Culture</F> Museums in Brussels are generally open Tuesday to Sunday 10A.M.-5P.M. Some museums close for one hour at lunch. Autoworld Automobile Museum Palais du Cinquantenaire For the veteran car enthusiast. Musee Royal d'Art et d'Histoire Palais du Cinquantenaire Archeology and art from the ancient to the modern. Musees Royaux des Beaux Arts Mont des Arts Art of all periods. Musee d'Art Moderne Place Royal Mostly Belgian art in subterranean galleries. Music Theatre Du Residence Palais 155 Rue de la Loi 02/ 231-0305 Concerts and theatrical productions in a lavish theater. Theatre Royal De La Monnaie Place de la Monnaie 02/ 218-1211 The main venue for opera and classical music. </L2> <L5><F14>Shopping</F> Visitors are exempt from paying the 19.5 percent tax (VAT) on purchases above a certain amount (determined by each store), on completion of a simple form and presentation of a passport at the time of purchase. To validate the refund, which will be sent to your home address, you must present the paperwork and goods at customs. Leather goods Delvaux 31 Galerie de la Reine Antiques Many of the small antique stores, along with galleries specializing in modern and African art, are clustered around place du Grand Sablon. The Hotel des Ventes 39 Place du Grand Sablon 02/ 512-9736 Frequent evening auctions. Fine art Galleries are clustered in two main areas: around the Sablon and where Avenue Louise meets Chaussee de Charleroi. Chocolate Mary 73 Rue Royale The best chocolatier and supplier of hand-made pralines to the royal court. Markets Brussels features more than 100 regular street markets. Place du Chatelain The most fashionable market in town. Place du Jeu de Balle (Flea market) Every day in the heart of the Marolles district. </L5> <L3><F14>Children</F> Maison Picard 71-75 Rue du Lombard An exhaustive array of toys, clothes, and costumes. Musee des Enfants 15 Rue du Bourgmestre 02/ 640-0107 Hands-on exhibits. Musee du Jouet 24 Rue de l'Association 02/ 219-6168 Toys ranging from teddy bears to puppet theaters. Le Perruchet in Ixelles 50 Avenue de la Foret 02/ 673-8730 Traditional puppet performances. Zoo (in Antwerp) 26 Koningin Astridplein 03/ 231-1640 Only 30 minutes away by train and alongside the railway station. <F14>Night Spots</F> Music Travers 11 Rue Traversiere Monday night jam sessions are free. Preservation Hall 3 Rue de Londres New Orleans-style jazz. Forest National 36 Avenue du Globe 02/ 347-0355 The biggest venue in Brussels. Ancienne Belgique 14 Rue des Pierres 02/ 512-5986 Always packed. Clubs Le Machado 14 Rue des Chapeliers Latin flavor. Mirano Continental 38 Chaussee de Louvain Brussels's young and beautiful. Vaudeville 15 Galerie de la Reine An old theater in the Galeries Saint-Hubert. Cabarets Brussels has a number of late-night cabarets in the tradition of Paris's Moulin Rouge. Must 10 Rue du Cirque Nightly from 11P.M. Play-Night 13 Rue Jean Stas Feather-clad features, nightly except Sunday. </L3> <L4><F14>Excursions </F> Waterloo The Battle of Waterloo was fought just 12 miles south of Brussels. Explore the town and battlefield. English guides available from the Musee Wellington in the center of town. Tervuren Two distinctive museums are located in this Brussels suburb, less than eight miles from the city center. The Musee du Transport Urbain Bruxellois chronicles the history of public transport in the city. Nearby, the Musee Royal de l'Afrique Centrale's scope covers the whole of Africa, from geology to ethnography. </L4> (c) 1995 Leisure and Travel