Melina, Nadene And Bette B

Brussels: Parc du Cinquantenaire and Quartier Européen / Belgium

Arc de Triomphe du Parc Cinquentenaire (Brussels)

The main administrative buildings of the European Union are at the top of the Rue de la Loi (Wetstraat) and around the ring Schuman.
The most famous of all sites European Union is the Berlaymont building, in a star, and former headquarters of the European Union. The Council of Ministers, composed of representatives of Member States now meets in the pink granite block which stands in front of the Berlaymont. It is called Justus Lipsius, in memory of Belgian philosopher. A little further on is the Residence Palace, a luxurious resort on the decade of 1920, the Parc Léopold, the Parc du Cinquantenaire and the Square Ambiorix.
Created to celebrate the 50 anniversary of independence from Belgium in 1880, the Parc du Cinquantenaire is not without curiosity. This park has hosted trade shows, an international exhibition in 1888 and an exhibition universal in 1897. Its esplanade just two circular arches joined by an arch topped by a large statue that represents the unity of Belgium. It has numerous museums, including the Navy Museum, the Museum of Aviation, the Motor Museum or the Museum of Art and History.
The large modern glass and steel complex is located behind the train station, Léopold district is one of the three headquarters of the European Parliament, elected by the EU. Its permanent headquarters are in Strasbourg (France), hosting a monthly plenary sessions. The administrative center is located in Luxembourg and committee meetings held in Brussels, once the largest building in Europe.

Parc du Cinquantenaire (Brussels)

»Buildings and places of interest:
" Parc du Cinquantenaire : It was built to host the World Expo, commissioned by King Leopold II to celebrate 50 years of Belgian independence. The park was built on a swamp that was not used. The park is dominated by a Triumphal Arch, designed by French architect Charles Girault and inspired of Paris, which is a bronze sculpture called Brabant hoisting the national flag. On both sides of the arch are two large exhibition spaces, the only ones that were completed for the opening of the International Exhibition of Art and Industry in 1880, which are connected to the arc by a colonnade decorated with colorful mosaics.
Before becoming a museum, large spaces on either side of the triumphal arch were used to host trade shows (the last was held in 1935), to host horse racing and to keep pigeons. During World War II the park was used as a growing area.
home exhibition spaces now the Royal Museum of Art and History, the Museum of the Royal Navy and Military Autoworld. In the park there are also other notable buildings and monuments like the Palace of the fiftieth anniversary, the Great Mosque of Brussels, the statue of the green dog, the flag of 'human passions' of Victor Horta, the monuments to the Congo, General Thys the Reaper and Robert Schuman.
The Musée Royal de l'Armée et d'Histoire Militaire was opened in 1923. It is dedicated to aviation, the Belgian army and its history from 1700 until today. Exposed arms, uniforms, medals and paintings. There is an area dedicated to the struggle for independence in 1830. There are two sections dedicated to the World Wars and in the yard, trucks and armored vehicles.

Musées Royaux d'Art et d'History (Brussels)

The Musées Royaux d'Art et d'Historia [ official Web ] , also called Musée du Cinquentenaire, contains the world's cultures in 140 rooms spread over four issues: The Archaeology of Belgium, antiquity which features a detailed scale model of ancient Rome and sections devoted to Egypt, Greece and Persia, the decorative arts European (Gothic altarpieces, Renaissance tapestries ...) and non-European civilizations (Khmer art, Chinese, Islamic, Indian, pre-Columbian civilizations ...). It also has a huge art library with over 100,000 volumes. Bordiau the architect's plans of exhibition halls, partially revised to transform the rooms in Victorian museums. The Crystal Palace in London inspired the use of glass and crystal.
The Autoworld is one of the most prestigious automobile museums in the world. Vehicles of all styles and all ages, as the Belgian Minerva, 1897, the first Benz (1886), the famous Ford 'T' (1911), the 'Traction Avant' (1934), Bugattis, Buick, Daimler ... The jewels of the museum are the presidential cars American presidents Roosevelt, 1930, and Kennedy Cadillac, 1956.
"Rond-Point Schuman : This building, constructed between 1961 and 1968 on a project by architects L. Vestel, Jean Gilson, André and Jean Polak, was the headquarters of the European Union until 1991, when he was replaced for security reasons. Plant has a cross and twelve floors. Is opposite, since 1995, the Consilium huge complex with several rooms for meetings and conferences.
"Maison Cauchie (Rue des Francs, 5): Model of art nouveau, the home of Paul Cauchie (1905) seduces the amazing graffiti on the facade, which shows the eight artistic disciplines, and the delicate of the room, symbolizing the five senses.

Maison Saint-Cyr on Square Ambiorix (Brussels)

"Square Ambiorix : In the 1870's, this ancient land became one of the Brussels most beautiful residential, with a large central area of \u200b\u200bgardens, ponds and fountains. This square is surrounded by elegant residential homes. At number 11, a jewel of art nouveau: the fantastic Maison Saint-Cyr, named after the painter who lived here. It features curved lines, balustrades and iron balconies in the narrow front. Gustave Strauven, its builder, was 22 when made in 1903. In addition, the Avenue Palmerston, n º 2 to 4, two creations of Horta: the mansion Delhaye and Van Eetvelde (1901), at No. 24, the beautiful villa Germaine (1897), decorated with tiles and bricks d colors.
"Musée Charlier (Avenue des Arts, 16) [official website ]: The former home of arts patron Henri Van Cutsem bequeathed to the painter and sculptor Guillaume Charlier his death in 1904, is an intimate museum , perfect for soaking in the life of late nineteenth century. In the Chinese type rooms, Louis XV, Louis XVI, Empire, is located realistic and impressionist paintings, sculptures and furniture representative of this century.
»Parc Léopold (Leopoldspark) : It has an area of \u200b\u200b12 ha. It was created in 1880 to host numerous scientific institutes to the University. At the Institute of Sociology (1901-1902), the work of H. van de Velde, is the magnificent Bibliothèque Solvay.
" European Parliament (Rue Wiertz, 43): Masterpiece (Boucquillon, 1943) for some other monstrosity of glass. The Brussels gave him the nickname of "Windmills of the Gods' and regretted that to build the complex has lost much of the lively Léopold. The huge domed structure Charlemagne's Palace, completed in 1997, houses the offices of the Presidency of the European Parliament's Secretariat. Here you can find both the Commission and Parliament in plenary.

Musée Wiertz (Brussels)

"Musée Wiertz (Rue Vautier, 62): Findings about 1600 works: paintings, drawings and sculptures that form the body most important work of Antoine Wiertz (1806-1865), forerunner of Belgian Symbolism. His paintings bleak ranging from the academic and romance. Sculptures, paintings and some monumental works like 'The Révolte Enfers des contre le Ciel "(1841),' La bella Rosina" (1843), "Triumph of Christ" (1830) and 'Battle for the body of Patroclus' (1833 -1845). Some of them follow the style of Rubens, with biblical scenes and Homeric.
"Musée Camille Lemonier (Chaussée de Wavre, 150): It is installed in the House of Writers', in the district of Ixelles, near the Musée Wiertz. It documents the life and work of Camille Lemonnier (1844-1913), notable contemporary writer. was narrator, critic Art and playwright, belonged to Naturalism led by Zola.
"Muséum des Sciences Naturelles (Rue Vautier, 29) [official website ]: It is one of natural history museums in the world richer. Notable iguanodons Bernissart, dinosaurs 135 million years whose skeletons are intact. The museum also has interactive activities that provide insight into all aspects of the evolution of natural history . There are rooms devoted to the fossil flora, mammals and birds (Room 3) and mineralogy (Room 2).
» Bibliography:" Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp "(El País Aguilar Visual Guides)" 'Belgium and Luxembourg' (Total Guide Anaya Touring Club) »Brussels (Plano, guide) (Ediciones B)
»Links: " About Belgium »Brussels (Wikipedia)" Stad Brussel " Belgian Tourist Office: Brussels and Wallonia (in English) » Tourism Flanders