Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
extensive flier translating all of the descriptions (€3, €5 combo-
ticket includes Coudenberg Palace; June-Sept Tue-Sun 10:00-
18:00, Oct-May Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00, closed Mon year-round, to
the right of the palace at place des Palais 7, tel. 07-022-0492, www
.belvue.be). Lunch is served in the lobby of this former princess'
palace (€10-15 plates, same hours as museum).
Coudenberg Palace —The BELvue Museum stands atop the
barren archaeological remains of a 12th-century Brussels palace.
While well-lit and well-described, the ruins still aren't much to
see. The best thing is the free orientation video you see before
descending (€4, €5 combo-ticket includes BELvue Museum, same
hours as BELvue).
North of Central Station
s St. Michael's Cathedral —Belgium is largely Catholic, and
St. Michael's Cathedral has been the center of Belgium's religious
life for nearly 1,000 years. While the
Netherlands went in a Protestant direc-
tion in the 1500s, Belgium remains 80
percent Catholic (although only about
20 percent go to Mass). One of Europe's
classic Gothic churches, built between
roughly 1200 and 1500, Brussels'
cathedral is made from white stone
and topped by twin towers (Mon-Fri
7:00-18:00, Sat-Sun 8:30-18:00, until
19:00 in summer).
The church is where royal weddings
and funerals take place. Photographs
(to the right of the entrance) show the funeral of the popular King
Baudouin, who died in 1993. He was succeeded by his younger
brother, Albert II (whose face is on Belgium's euro coins). Albert
will be succeeded by his son, Prince Philippe. Traditionally, the
ruler was always a man, but in 1992 the constitution was changed,
making it clear that the oldest child—boy or girl—would take the
throne. In 1999, Prince Philippe and his bride, Mathilde—after a
civil ceremony at the Town Hall—paraded up here for a two-hour
Catholic ceremony with all the trimmings. They had a baby girl in
2001, and she is in line to become Belgium's Queen Elisabeth.
Before leaving, enjoy the great view from the outside porch of
the Town Hall spire with its gold statue of St. Michael.
s Belgian Comic Strip Center (Centre Belge de la Bande
Dessinée) —Belgium has produced some of the world's most pop-
ular comic characters, including the Smurfs, Tintin, and Lucky
Luke. You'll find these, and many less famous local comics, at the
Comic Strip Center.
 
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