Atomium & Heyzel area, Brussels

This is , i think, the most famous vieuw from Brussels. The atomium is a building that has survived the expo off 1958. It's build in Steel and Aluminiumen represents the moluculair structure of iron. The highest globe is 102 m high, which lodge a resaurant and a panoramic platform. In the other globes there are several exhibitions on design and science. You'll find even more info about the monument and original pictures from the Expo '58. Only a month ago the reopened the Atomium after a long restauration. The monument glows now in all of is glory.

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This is the sign of Brussels, like an Eiffle Tower in Paris or Statue of Liberty in New Your City. It is much more imposing in reality than when you watch photos! There is an exibition up but as it was reopened on 18th February, 2006, there is always a long queue and this is why I didn't decided to see an exibition. However, I plan to visit Brussels again and see some more places...:)

When we visited the Atomium, at Decembre 04, it was under renovation. So we couldnt visit the inside. In fact, it looked rusty and a bit dated. But now works seem to be completed and you will probably see its better face. Although it is far from city centre (7 kms., more or less) it is easy accesible from there, because Metro line 1A takes you just a few meters from the Atomium. It opens from 10 am to 6 pm and admission fee is 7 euros until May 06 and it is going to be 9 euros afterwards. There is also a panoramic restaurant in the upper sphere.
Cuando visitamos el Atomium, en diciembre de 2004, estaba en reformas, asi que no pudimos visitar el interior. De hecho, tenia pinta de oxidado un poco anticuado. Pero ahora parece que las obras han terminado y seguramente vereis su mejor cara. Aunque esta lejos del centro de la ciudad (unos 7 kms.) se llega facilmente, porque la linea 1A del Metro te deja justo a unos pocos metros del Atomium. Abre de 10am a 6pm y la entrada cuesta 7 euros hasta mayo de 2006 y va a costar 9 euros despues de mayo. Tambien hay un restaurante panoramico en la esfera superior.

My sis and I enjoyed Mini Europe! Yes, the place is full of miniatures of major tourist spots in Europe like the San Marco Square in Venice, the Monastery in Melk, Austria, the Big Ben in London, etc.

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The Atomium stands at 102m high and it is worth taking the lift to the uppermost sphere to take in the view.

The Mini-Europe theme park and the Baudouin Stadium (used during the Euro 2000 football tournament, and formerly the Heysel stadium) can be seen from up there.

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The Atomium was built for the World Fair in 1958.

The structure represents an atom magnified 165 billion times.

It stands 102m high, and looks very imposing from up close. The view from the top is impressive and you can move between the spheres via escalators.

I wasn't particularly impressed with the exhibits within the spheres (various art and science-based themes from what I recall), but I would still recommend entering the Atomium - if only once.

I don't know why its so important to see the an atom in X time bigger, but as a good tourist i did it. It look nice. Just one question for the brusells habitants: Why the pool in front of Atom has pink water inside? I liked the idea of pink water, it look nice :)

This strange construction was built for the Expo '58. André Waterkeyn designed it.

The construction consists of 9 spheres, representing an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times.

It's 103m high and the spheres are connected by escalators. So, if you want, you can go to the top 1 and enjoy the view over the city. But, 1st you'll have to wait for the renovation work to be finished.

The renovation work started in March 2004 and will be finished by January 2006.