About chocolate...
by melissa_bel
Of course, you can't leave Brussels without bringing a "ballotin" of "pralines".
How do you tell which one is good? A quality chocolate at a reasonnable price is Leonidas. Made with fresh ingredients, they have to be eaten quickly. You can find Leonidas stores all over Brussels. There's one near Grand-Place and one on Boulevard Anspach, between Place de Brouckere and the Bourse.
Warning: Belgians often bring chocolate as a gift for a party, a birthday... any occasions really. DON'T bring Leonidas (unless it's for the kids) as you will be regarded as being a cheapstake.
The one that started it all was Neuhaus. Mr. Neuhaus, son of a Swiss immigrant, started the whole Belgian Chocolate craze in the 19th century. His first store was, and still is, in the Galleries St-Hubert. Mrs Neuhaus deserves credits to have invented the "ballotin", that characteristical little box to keep your chocolate. Neuhaus is still top notch.
Godiva is now exporting itself quite well (see your local department store like Marshall Fields or Macy's) or your local coffee-shop. The flagship store on the Grand'Place is a little chocolate heaven... yummy but really overpriced, I think!
Amongst the newcomers (and expensive) in the Belgian chocolate worls is Pierre Marcolini. I never had the opportunity to try it but I heard it quickly became one of the most sought after brand. His chocolates with subtles mixes and unusual flavours would be best suited for real chocoholics who know what they're about to taste.
He has a shop on Place du Grand Sablon, 39 and also one on Avenue Louise, 75M.
Galler is the brand prized by the royal court. Its specialty is chocolate bars (coconut filled white chocolate, champagne filled dark chocolate...). The main store is located off Grand'Place (Rue au Beurre 44) but you can find the bars at most grocery stores. They also make "Langue de Chat", a special chocolate designed after one of Belgium's most beloved comic-strip cat :Philippe Geluck's Le Chat.
Left Luggage at Midi Station
by johngayton
Roughly in the centre of the main concourse, where the ING bank thing is and just round the corner from the International departures area for Eurostar and the Thalys reception, you'll find both manned and automatic left luggage facilities. These are available 24 hours a day with a small locker costing 3 Euros per day whilst the manned office charges 3.80 per item regardless of size.
Friendly guys in the manned office but note that they won't give you change for the lockers.
THE ROYAL SQUARE
The royal...
by benzerga
THE ROYAL SQUARE
The royal square lies at the Koudenberg/Coudenberg, a natural hill at the edge of the medieval city center. Here, the duke of Brabant had a castle built in the 11th century. His successors left the city of Leuven, which had been the old capital of the dukedom and chose the castle in Brussels as their permanent residence. In the course of the following centuries, the dukes of Burgundy and, later, the Habsburg kings and emperors all adapted the castle to their needs and wishes. Between 1452 and 1459 Philip the Good of Burgundy had the Magna Aula constructed. This hall was meant for the many meetings of the Council of Brabant and other festivities. By the 16th century, the palace had become one of the most impressive and picturesque royal residences in Europe. It also had a magnificent garden, which is now the royal park.
Palace de Justice
by matcrazy1
I was driving looong time around Brussels trying to find any (hmm... free - it was necessary with my loooow budget) parking lot and finally I found it at the back of a huge edificie. It was the Palace of Justice which was situated on top of a hill called "gallows hill" in the Middle Ages.
First I tried to find out any restroom/toilet but I couldn't. The building houses the supreme court of law for Belgium and was closed for visitors without special permissions (security) . Luckily there was a restaurant nearby.
Grand Place is the place to go...
by Sjalen
Grand Place is the place to go to with someone who has never been to Brussels before but having said that, I also take most of my friends to the proper beer cafés in town. What I miss when I'm not in Brussels? HM...most certainly not the rain and the filthy streets but OH yes; the surrealism! Everywhere you go there are signs of it and best of all was the 2001 Christmas installation in Grand Place. Colourful, illuminated donkeys, sheep and cows! Could only be Belgium and I love it.
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Flanders Lille Station
Royal Galleries of Saint Hubert
View on the fountain.
The Park in front of the Sacred Heart Basilica
