The multicultural city of Brussels, Belgium offers fine dining, fascinating art and architecture, world-class luxury accommodations, and a cosmopolitan atmosphere. From its origins as a fortress founded by the grandson of Charlemagne to its current standing as the capital city of the EU (European Union), Brussels attracts vacationing tourists and high-level business executives alike. Brussels' two official languages are French and Dutch.
Metropolitan Brussels is divided into nineteen separate boroughs or municipalities. As the old town was cleared to make way for new buildings fit for the capital of Europe, Brussels' historic district is relatively small, but each of the nineteen boroughs has its own attractions. Bruxelles features lovely ornate buildings lining the Grand'Place, and Uccle offers many charming medieval cul-de-sacs and tiny squares. Woluwé-Saint-Pierre and Woluwé-Saint-Lambert are mainly residential; visitors enjoy these neighborhoods for the numerour gardens and green areas as well as the Wolubilis cultural complex.
Hotel accommodations in Brussels vary considerably; the high end is driven by the large number of international business travelers. Deals at luxury properties such as the Hotel Metropole Brussels, the Sofitel Brussels Toison d'Or, and the Stanhope Hotel can generally only be found during the summer and on weekends when the business world is on holiday. For the more cost-conscious traveler, some newer properties are springing up throughout the city which offer clean and comfortable rooms at reasonable rates. |
