Atomium & Heyzel area, Brussels

I really recommend taking a few hours out and taking a trip to on the metro to Heysel to visit the Atomium which is quite literally an impressive modern iron structure of a molecule. The structure is 102 m high and consists of 9 spheres which are connected by escalators in the tubes. The topmost sphere houses a restaurant with a panoramic view of Brussels whilst the others contain a modern art/science exhibition. It is interesting wandering round as there isn't quite anything like it. But be warned it's compulsory to have your picture taken with their mascot before you enter the lift up to the top ... enough said.

Here you can enjoy

- Mini Europe: is a park with reconstructions of the major monuments of Europe only in miniature, like the Sacre Coeur, the Eiffel Tower, Houses of Parliament, Brandenburg Gate, Big Ben,...

- Oceade: do you want to make a tropical beach experience ?? Then Oceade is your place ! It's an indoor swimming complex.

- Kinepolis: one of the largest cinema complexes in Europe with 24 cinema rooms so as a giant IMAX movie screen.

You can see this huge and unique monument which built in 1958 for the Universal Exhibition as soon as you arrive in Heysel Station.
Well, i didn't enter this monument but its enough for me just only take the picture from outside.

The atonium is a landmark well known from the Brussells area, it was originally built as part of an exhibition in the city and has survived whilst others did'nt. The views from the top are superb, as are some of the features on the way back down - the idea is that you get propelled in a super fast elevator up to the top, have a look out and then meandre back down via stairs and escalators, it is worthwhile and not too costly. From the top you can see the renovated Heysel Soccer stadium - done up for Euro 2000 and also the feature Park - Mini Europe.

A visit to Brussels will not be completed without a paying a visit to its unique giant model.
The Atomium is based on the elementary perception of a metal crystal. It consists of nine large spheres, represented in the basic group of a symmetrical three dimensional system. Each of the spheres is linked to others measuring 3 meters. Atomium is 102 meters high and each of nine spheres is 18 meters in diameter.

The Atomium is an enormous model of an iron molecule can be seen from far away. The revolutionary-looking model was built in 1958 and it grabbed most attraction and attention of its era. The model is 165 billion times bigger than original size of an a tom.

Mentionig many times that the strucutre corrrspond to the alpha-strucutre of Iron but how many times it was this structure magnified to become a symbol to the city of Brussels: 150 millions times. Which is, by the way, three hundred times higher than the magnification -we microsocopist- use to take pictures revealing atoms and molecules by transmission electron microscopy.

This monument from 1958 has become the Eiffel Tower of Brussels. The Atomium is the visual representation of the concept of an "atom". It symbolizes an elementary iron crystal with its 9 atoms and magnified 150 billion times. It honored the metal and iron industry and the belief in the atomic power. The architect was André WATERKEYN. It took 18 months to conceive and another 18 months to construct. The monument is coated with aluminum, weighs 2.400 tons and<> is 102 meters high. Each sphere has a diameter of 18 meters. An elevator takes visitors to the upper sphere where one can enjoy a panoramic view of the Heysel area and (if the weather is good) the city of Brussels. There is also a good buffet-restaurant (Chez Adrienne) in the upper sphere. In the other spheres expositions are organized. They can be visited by means of escalators. In the coming years the monument will undergo cleaning and restoration.
Location
Eeuwfeestlaan/ Boulevard du Centenaire 1020 Brussels (Laken)