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Most tourist attractions and museums are open on Sundays and closed on Mondays with the exception of Tournai where they are closed on Tuesdays. There is a small entrance fee for most museums. Special entrance packages are available in main cities.
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ABC
Amsterdam, Brussels and Cologne. It's a easy as abc! Travel to the cultural triangle. |
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Art in Europe
A guide to Art & Architecture in Europe. Book your trip right now! |
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VisitEurope.com
Helps you prepare your next vacation to Europe. |
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Major
Belgian Museums in:
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| Nocturnes - Late Night Museum Nights in Brussels |
At night the light may be fading, but the museums of Brussels will be illuminated so that you can discover their many treasures in an extraordinary atmosphere! So, make a note in your diary that every Thursday evening from 27 September to 20 December, between 5pm and 10pm, the Brussels Museums will be inviting you to take advantage of a series of Nocturnes (Late-Evening Openings) to (re)discover their magnificent collections. You will be offered guided tours, drinks or unusual activities. Almost 50 museums will open their doors to you successively over the course of 13 evenings. The 7th edition this year will start with a special free opening evening on Thursday the 27th of September. The complete program can be found on www.brusselsmuseums.be.
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| Brussels Card |
The new 2007 Brussels Card has arrived! With options for 24, 48 or 72 hours, this pass provides free access to museums, discounts in restaurants, shops, tourist attractions and unlimited travel on public transport. It's the perfect tool for exploring Brussels throughout 2007, The Year of Europe with a fully packed program of concerts, festivals, exhibitions & cultural events.The BRUSSELS CARD is sold for: 33 €, 28 € and 20 € for respectively a 72, 48 or 24 hours card: www.brusselscard.be
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| Museums in Brussels |
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Autoworld
Just
like the it sounds, this museum is dedicated
to the history of the automotive industry
with five extraordinary automobile collections
including a carriage used by Napoleon
III, motorcycles, speedsters and interesting
concept cars.
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Belgian Center for Comic Strip Art
Located
in an art nouveau masterpiece designed
by Victor Horta, this unique museum
depicts the stages of putting together
a comic strip as well as wonderful displays
of cartoon art form artists around the
world and of course Belgium's most famous
cartoonists.
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The
Bellevue Museums
This
is the official museum of the Belgian
Dynasty including the King Baudouin
Memorial and Vestiges of the Palace
of Emperor Charles V also known as the
Archeological site of the Coudenberg. |
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David
and Alice van Buuren Museum
This
house bought in 1928 by the banker and
patron David van Buuren has an outdoor
architecture typical of the Amsterdam
School and an indoor decoration typical
of "Art Deco" style by Belgian,
French and Dutch designers. |
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Gueuze
(Beer) Museum
This
working brewery is also a working museum
and has been around since 1900. Owned
and operated by the Van Roy-Cantillon
family, tours and tastings are available
all year round. Their specialty is the
Belgian beer known as Gueze, which some
say resembles champagne. |
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Horta
Museum
This
showcase of sinuous decorative lines,
curved window frames, elaborate balconies
and floral influence is the former home
of Art Nouveau pioneer, Victor Horta. Attention to detail
is keenly seen here where even the light
switch panels are works of art.
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Jewish
Museum
This museum is devoted
to thousand of years of Judaism as well
as to the part played by the Jewish
communities in the history of Belgium.
Open for more than 20 years the exhibition
includes information on acquisitions,
genealogy, and events.
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Mini Europe & Atomium
Located
in Bruparck, the Atomium is a spectacular
structure representing the atom, magnified
165 billion times.
Mini Europe is a fun, family attraction
where the most famous monuments in Europe
are scaled down to miniatures.
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Museum of
Music Instruments (MIM)
Housed
in a beautiful art nouveau structure
are over 7000 musical instruments including
everything from the bizarre to the beautiful.
Don't miss a trip to the top of the
structure where you can get a magnificent
panorama of Brussels.
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Royal Army and Military
History Museum
Ten
centuries of military history located
adjacent to the Cinquantenaire Arch
at Jubelpark. The collection includes
suits of armor, masterly crafted swords,
hundreds of uniforms from tens of countries
medals, flags and even planes and armored
vehicles. |
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Royal
Institute for Natural Sciences of Belgium
Museum
This museum houses fantastic collection
of all things science and nature including
iguanodons, the only one of its kind
in the world, automated dinosaurs larger
than life, a vivarium of spiders and
amazing invertebrates, not to mention
a pod of giant whales.
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Royal
Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium -
Ancient
Art Museum - Modern
Art Museum
Founded two centuries ago, the Royal
Museums of Fine Arts, which also consists
of the Ancient & Modern Art Museums,
holds some twenty thousand paintings,
sculptures and drawings. Discover some
of Belgium and Europe's finest here
where the artistic menu offers everyone
from Bosch and Bruegel, Cranach and
Memling, Jordaens and Rubens, Delveaux
and Magritte.
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Royal
Museum of Central Africa
This
museum is home to a collection of ethnographic
objects from Central Africa that is
the only one of its kind in the world.
It also has a film library, a photographic
library and a large collection of maps
and geological data. Its zoology collection
features a large number of type specimens
of African fauna, while the Entomology
Section boasts some six million insects.
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Royal Museum of Art & History
This museum was founded in 1835 and
has an important collection of art objects
from different civilizations from all
over the world. It offers an overview
of the history of mankind in the five
continents from prehistoric times until
today. The museum is part of the Royal
Museums of Art and History, to which
also belong The Hallepoortmuseum, The
Japanese Tower and the Chinese Pavilion.
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Museum
of Costume and Lace
Displayed in subdued lighting and safely
laid out in drawers, this beautiful
lace collection contains pieces made
on the spindle and with needles, not
only from Brussels but also from France
and Italy. The bourgeois costumes the
lace was made for are also on show in
thematic exhibits. |
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Bozar - Palais des Beaux Arts
Designed by Art Nouveau pioneer Victor Horta, the Center for Fine Arts in Brussels houses concert halls and exhibition areas open to all visitors and embracing the artistic fields of music, theater, cinema and art. It is the focus for the city's music and dance, and is home to the Belgian National Orchestra. |
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Antwerp Museum Card
Discover Antwerp's museums and churches with unlimited use of public transportation. For 20 Euro the card provides unlimited access for 48 hours.The Museum Card can be purchased from Info Cultuur, Antwerp Tourist Information, de Lijn stores, museums, the Cathedral of Our Lady and St Jacob's Church. |
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Diamondland
DiamondLand
opened in 1983 and is the largest diamond
showroom in Antwerp open to the public.
Visitors are welcomed in their own languages
and during a 20 minutes guided tour,
they are made familiar with cleaving,
sawing, bruting, polishing and the international
rules for grading diamonds, treating
subjects like carat, color, cut
and clarity.
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Interactive Diamond Museum
The largest diamond
museum in the world is located in Antwerp.
A visit to this museum is a sensual
experience of sound and vision that
immerses the visitor into the fascinating
diamond world, through the production
process of diamonds, from the origin,
the exploitation, processing and manufacturing
methods, to the end result of ornamental
or industrial diamonds.
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Mayer
Van den Bergh Museum
This museum holds the art collection
of Fritz Mayer van den Bergh. A large
number of magnificent works from the
Middle Ages and the Age of Renaissance
were brought to Antwerp through his
efforts. Paintings, statues, tapestries,
drawings, stained glass, and many other
works of art have found a permanent
place in an attractive house of a suitable
historical style.
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Middelheim
Open-Air Statuary Museum
This museum hosted its first exhibition
in 1950, has an exceptional collection
and offers an overview of modern western
sculpture, including works by artists
such as Rodin, Bourdelle, and Manzu.
The sculptures from Rodin to the present
day are presented in the surroundings
of a splendid park. |
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MOMU
(Fashion Museum)
The MoMu collection consists of a very
diverse collection of clothing, lace,
embroidery, fabrics and tools for artisanal
textile processing. The oldest collection
pieces date back to the 16th century,
but the emphasis is on the 19th century.
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Plantin-Moretus
Museum & Municipal Print Room
This museum guides visitors through
300 years of printing activity including
the atmosphere of a real printing business,
where the smell of paper and ink blends
with the sound of the platen, fiercely
pushing on the press.
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Rockox House
This museum was once the home of the 17th century mayor Nicolaas Rockox, an art collector and also a friend of Rubens. The collection comprises works by Rubens, Van Dyck, Jordaens, Teniers, Bruegel, Metsys and many others.
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Rubens'
House
(Rubenshuis)
This
artist's home with the features of a
palazzo is unequalled. The life of this
great baroque painter unfolds before
your eyes and enables you to discover
his multifaceted talent: the painter,
architect and diplomat, the collector
and scientist, the husband and father.
Above all, you will discover Rubens
as the prince of baroque in Europe.
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Royal
Museum of Fine Arts
Open
since 1810 and also known as the Koninklijk
Museum, it has houses an outstanding
collection of paintings, sculptures
and drawings from the fourteenth to
the twentieth centuries. Artists represented
in this romantic temple of art include
masters such as Rubens, Wouters, Van
der Weyden, Memling, Fouquet, Van Dyck
and Delvaux.
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Bastogne
Historical Center
The
BHC is situated next to the American
Memorial on the Mardasson hill. The
visit is made up of two phases: 1) Cinema
: new film made with the best film extracts
shot during the battles by the Americans
and the Germans - 2) Exhibition of amazing
collections, presented on dummies, representing
the protagonists of the battle and the
soldiers appearing on documents of that
period.
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Pays D'Ardenne - Original Museum
Collections:
ancient tools, regional zoology, war.
Discover the French speaking Ardennes: the Battle of the
Bulge, ancient professions, the zoology.
Unique collections. Arms, documents and
unusual objects describe the life of German
and American soldiers during the war. |
Bison
Farm
How
did one live in the real Far West? If
you're curious for wild bisons, their
extraordinary yet so peaceful strength
and if you love nature, take place in
the cart that'll take you to the heart
of the herd. If you're fascinated by the
Indian civilization, discover their culture,
traditions, crafts,... |
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Beguine's
House (Beguinage)
Beguinages, unique to Belgium are walled
medieval miniature cities which offered
shelter to women during the middle ages
when their husbands were off to the crusades. The
Beguine's House provides a good picture
of the day-to-day life of the former inhabitants.
Sunday service at the Beguinage Church
: 9.30 a.m.
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Diamond Museum
The
Diamond museum in Bruges is one of only
5 diamond museums in the world. Bruges
is the city where the art of diamond polishing
was invented in the 15th century by local
goldsmith Lodewijk van Berquem. Every
day at 12.15, a polishing demonstration
is carried out by a diamond polisher in
the museum's extraordinary diamond polishing
workshop, established in the restored
basement which dates from the Middle Ages. |
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Museum of Folklore
Located in a series of 17th-century almshouses, it houses a collection of historic objects, arranged thematically in many settings such as a classroom, a cobbler’s workshop, a pharmacy, a tailor’s workshop etc. Traditional chocolate-making demonstrations on Thu. afternoons. Open daily except Mon. from 9:30 am – 5:00 pm.
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Groeninge
Museum
This
museum offers a rich and fascinating survey
into the world-famous collection of ‘Flemish
Primitive’ art, works by a wide
range of Renaissance and Baroque masters,
a selection of paintings from the 18th
and 19th-century Neo-classical and Realist
periods, milestones of Symbolism and Modernism,
masterpieces of Flemish Expressionism
and a rotating selection from the city’s
collection of post-war modern art.
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Gruuthuse
Museum
The excellently preserved 15th-century
town palace of the Lords of Gruuthuse
contains a remarkable collection of applied
art, featuring furniture, tapestries,
musical instruments, paintings, silverware,
tin, pottery and weapons from the 13th
to the 19th centuries.
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Kantcentrum
(Lace Center)
This lace museum is housed in the tastefully
restored almshouses founded by the Adornes
family. Lace demonstrations are frequently
given, whereas in the museum-shop all
materials for lace-making can be purchased.
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Memling Museum
This museum
is one of the oldest surviving medieval
hospitals in Europe, evoking everyday
life at the hospital in former times.
The chapel, with its brilliant 15th-century
panels by Hans Memling and the world-famous
St Ursula shrine, is the treasure-house
of the complex. The old hospital pharmacy
with its physic garden is also worth a
visit.
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Ghent
Ghent:
You can visit the 15 most important museums and
monuments of Ghent and their exhibitions for the
single price of 12,50 €. The Museum
Card is valid for 3 days and can be bought at
the participating museums, the tourist information
points and the hotels. The validity only starts
at the first visit, which means that the card
can be bought beforehand. The participating
museums and monuments are:M.I.A.T., Museum of
fine arts, S.M.A.K., Design museum Gent, Alijn
House, Bijlokemuseum, Museum Dr. Guislain, Museum
for the History of Science, Art center St Peter’s
abbey, de Wereld van KINA (“het Huis”
& “de Tuin”), Caermersklooster,
Castle of the Counts, Belfry, St Bavo’s
Cathedral + Mystic Lamb.
Museums
in Ghent |
The
Castle of the Counts
(Gravensteen)
Throughout
the centuries, the castle has been used
as a Mint, a prison and a cotton plant.
The castle is still partially surrounded
by a medieval moat and can be visited
all through the year. Outside on the tower
is a panoramic view of the city and inside
is a museum about the history of prison
life including a very instructive collection
of medieval torture instruments.
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Design Museum Ghent
This
modern museum has an eclectic collection
of design products including furniture,
jewelry, glass and ceramic creations.
Everything from 17th and 18th-century
furnishings displayed in stylish interiors,
to groovy chairs from the seventies and
eighties are waiting to be discovered
here. The museum itself is interestingly
designed where even the restrooms are
unforgettable.
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Fine
Arts Museum
The
museum was founded in 1798 and is one of the oldest in the country with a permanent collection of 300 to 350 works of art on display. The museum is closed for renovation until
2007. During this time, parts of the collection
are displayed at the St Bavo Cathedral in Ghent.
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S.M.A.K.
- Museum of Contemporary Art
Open
since 1999, S.M.A.K. owns one of the most
important collections of contemporary
art in Western Europe. The collection
is unique and has an international reputation
including movements such as Cobra, Pop
Art, Minimal Art, Conceptual Art and Arte
Povera. Located opposite the Museum of
Fine Arts the two museums now form an
artistic haven in a city park located
on the outskirts of Ghent.
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Museum
for Industrial Archaeology and Textile
(M.I.A.T.)
This
historical museum covering the period
from 1750 until today emphasizes the developments
of industrial society through permanent
and temporary exhibitions. Visitor discover
hands-on how our ancestors worked and
lived through the first industrial revolution,
the emergence of the machine, and the
development of today's consumer and information
society, technical developments, daily
life.
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Archeforum
Relics
of extraordinary value were discovered underneath
Place Saint Lambert. These testimonies to
9000 years of history take visitors along
an underground trail combining an exploration
of the past with contemporary technology. |
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Ansembourge
Museum
This
private villa was built in 1740 for a banker.
It bears witness to the stimulating architecture
and decorative arts typical of the Liege
region and the refined "art de vivre" of the 18th century. Visitors can admire
the beautiful collection of carved and inlaid
woodwork from the 18th century as well as
tapestries, leather curtains in Cordoue
style, chandeliers, watches and porcelain.
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Museum
of Walloon Art
This
museum located in a beautiful building with
an open roof presents many paintings and
sculptures from Belgian artists form the
19th and 20th century. Everything form Magritte
to delvaux to Lombard is on display in the
collection of over 2,500 paintings not to
mention the hundreds of sculptures.
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Modern
Art Museum
In
this museum which has ben open since 1905
visitors can follow the evolution of modern
and contemporary art with works by Picasso,
Gaugin, Monet, Chagall. Renovated in 1993
this museum is considered by many as the
most beautiful in Europe.
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Public
Transport Museum
The Public Transport Museum of the Pays
de Liege offers a unique journey into time,
space and public transportation. The museum
features a wide collection of vehicles documenting
the period from 1875 to modern day. Taxis,
horse traction trams, electric tramways,
trolley buses, buses and other vehicles are
displayed in a large ancient depot. |
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Perfumes
Guy Delforge
Deep in the cellars
of the Citadel, Guy Delforge, presiding
with the Maestro's baton over an orchestra
of rich fragrances teaches visitors each
phase of this remarkable craft: the composition
of a subtle symphony of different scents,
the maceration process, the miraculous
birth of a perfume, olfactory testing,
chilling, filtration, and the art of presentation. |
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Museum
of Ancient Namur Arts
Situated
in an 18th century patrician house, the
museum presents medieval and renaissance
collections including paintings, sculptures,
silver, glass and embroideries.
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Felicien Rops Museum
Situated
in the center of Old Namur in a 19th century
residence, the museum displays its collection
in a fully renovated setting. The permanent
exhibition offers a complete look into
the works of Rops including lithography
and engravings.
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Groesbeeck
de Croix Museum
Open
since 1935, the building is one of the
finest mansions built in Namur in the
18th century. House inside is a remarkable
collection of decorative arts, furniture,
glass and crystal, crockery, silverware,
paintings and sculpture.
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The Treasure of Hugo d'Oignies
A rich collection of Mosan silver and goldsmith work of the 13th century by the monk Hugo d'Oignies in the Priory d'Oignies aux soeurs de Notre Dame. |
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Museum
of Tapestry & Cloth Arts
Nine
sumptuous works illustrate the golden age
of Tournai tapestry art in the 15th and
16th centuries 9with notably the Siege of
Jerusalem). These impressive masterpieces
are displayed next to a host of contemporary
tapestries. The museum is located in a neoclassical
residence. |
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Museum
of Fine Arts
The
building designed by Victor Horta, contains
numerous sculptures and paintings ranging
from Primitive painters to contemporary
masters, among whom are Campin, Roger Van
der Weyden (born in Tournai), Brueghel,
Rubens, Jordaens, Watteau, Van Gogh , the
only two paintings by Manet to be exhibited
in Belgium and local artists.
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Museum
of History and Decorative Arts
Its
remarkable collection of silverware, with
moulds and casts, and of gold, silver and
bronze coins offer the visitor a general
picture of the craftsmanship of our past
artists. But it is to the traditional Tournai
porcelain, a flourishing local industry
between 1750 and 1850, that the museum's
most lavish rooms are devoted.
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Museum
of Folklore
In
an intimate and quiet 19th century atmosphere
visitors will rediscover the delightful
ancient trades and crafts, popular art,
everyday life scenes, puppets, carnivals
and age-old secular traditions of the city.
They bring back to life its prestigious
historical past and lead you to the very
soul of Tournai.
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Bokrijk - Genk
This open-air museum contains more than 100 historic buildings with authentic interiors. You can step back in time and discover how people lived in the Flemish countryside before the industrial revolution. The playground is one of the largest in the country and there is a toddler's village with specially designed toys. |
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National
Botanic Garden - Meise
Its
owns one of the largest collections of
living plants in Europe (18,000 species).
Endless paths lead you through the exquisite
open-air collections of medicinal plants,
herbaceous plants, shrubs, trees and conifers.
Another world is revealed in the Plant
Palace, an enormous glasshouse covering
2,5 acres with more than 10,000 plant
species. |
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Paul
Delvaux Museum - St. Idesbald
Museum
dedicated to the late Belgian surrealist painter.
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Museums
in French Speaking Wallonia
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ArcheoPass
Tourist pass for the archeological heritage of French speaking Wallonia. |
Fondation Folon - La Hulpe
Jean-Michel Folon has housed
300 works (watercolors, paintings, artifacts,
sculptures, posters and illustrations) at
the Ferme du Chateau de la Hulpe. |
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Caves
(grottos) of Han-sur-Lesse
An
old panoramic train will bring you to the
entrance of the caves, a guide will lead
you through 3km of increasingly beautiful
chambers and passages and a romantic exit
on barges on the subterranean river. |
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The Gourmet
Museum and Library
Asbl La Rawète - Ferme Castrale D'Hermalle-sous-Huy
Interesting,
amusing, convivial. Archaeology, history
and folklore of 'Gourmet'. Rare objects,
furniture and paintings - from ancient times
to today - on gastronomy and tobacco, including
anecdotes told by experienced guides. The
library contains the most important collection
in Belgium of books on gastronomy: over
13.000 volumes.
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Modern Art Museum
(MAC) - Hornu/Mons
It
was brought into being by the decree of
12th Germinal year V and it was the first
public building the town possessed. The
new museum that we see today was planned
by the architect Ernest Vandestrate. It
display works from the 14th to the 20th
centuries, covering the different schools
of painting, but most particularly contemporary
art (1960-1990). |
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Museum - Louvain-la-Neuve
University
Museum of Louvain-la-Neuve. The Museum is
situated in the city center, The wide variety
if its collections entices the visitor to
join in a dialogue between ancient and modern
art. As well as anonymous authors of Indian,
Greek, pre-Columbian, Roman,Chinese and
African art, there are also the prestigious
names of Picasso, Magritte, Delvaux, Delahaut,
as well as those of masters of engraving
, including Durer, Rembrandt, Canaletto,
Goya... |
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Tramway
Museum - Thuin
It
houses the most complete collection of rural
trams in Belgium; the oldest steam engine
dating from 1888, the oldest electric tram
entirely built in Belgium and the only PCC
rail car. There are nearly fifty of these
gems. |
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Glass
Museum - Charleroi
It
traces the origin and history of glass,
the developments of its use and its decoration,
its composition, specific characteristics
and its applications today. |
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Museum
of Fine Arts - Charleroi
Located
in the Town Hall, it offers a rich collection
that covers the main artistic schools in
Belgium from the 19th century on into the
20th century: neo-classicism, realism, social
realism, impressionism, expressionism, surrealism
and abstract art. |
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The
Hospital our Lady with the Rose
- Lessine
Its
was founded in 1942 and is one of the last
examples of a self-sufficient hospital,
complete with farm, gardens, ice chamber
and cemetery, next to the convent buildings
and hospital. |
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Gambrinus
Driver Museum - Philippeville
Unique museum dedicated to brewery trucks.
The name Gambrinus owes its origin to the
Duke of Brabant, Jan Primus, who was known
as “the King of Beer”… “King of the road” for trucks
and king of beer! This museum is in a former
maltings-brewery-farm buildings of the 19th
century and its contains 20 vehicles and
75 themed displays. |
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The Wool & Fashion Museum - Verviers
Scenographed areas, moving images and comments in several languages allow discovery of the woolen cloth manufacturing process, and the dress history. |
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Archeoscope - Boullion
The Archeoscope Godefroid de Bouillon has brought together the best in technology and production to recreate the first Crusade in the company of Duke Godfrey of Bouillon, Peter the Hermit and thousands of men making their way to Jerusalem.
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L'Ilot
Sacre
All
you want to know about the heart of Brussels
including an interactive, virtual map. |
Red
Star Line Memorial - "ANTWERP - NEW
YORK"
A virtual Memorial
Museum soon to be also part of the "Museum
on the River" to open in 2008 in Antwerp.
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René Magritte
A virtual gallery
of the painter's life and works.
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Tintin
Visit
the site of Belgium most famous comic strip character.
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Le
Guide Colvert - great information
on attractions, museums in Belgium, and
more..... |
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AMUZ - Augustinus Muziekcentrum
This unique concert hall is set in a deconsecrated baroque church St. Augustinus in the heart of Antwerp. AMUZ appeals to a diverse and varied audience: the loyal concertgoer, the music lover looking to discover new music & musicians, the tourist wanting to spend some quality time in relaxing and enjoyable way.
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| MusicInBelgium.net
All about Rock, Blues and Folk. You will also find News, Concerts agenda, New CD Reviews, Topics, Forum, Classifieds, and more.
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Concours Reine Elisabeth
The Queen Elisabeth Competition covers the musical disciplines of piano, voice, violin and composition. The performance sessions take place every four years and the competition for composers every two years.
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Festival of Wallonia
This festival takes place in the enchanting city of Namur. It is for the true music lover, with musical novelties in historic places. Portions of the festival are intended for a younger audience.
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Festival of Flanders
A series of musical concerts and performances that take place around Brussels and Flanders. |
International Competition Adolphe Sax
The 5th International Adolphe Sax Competition will take place in Dinant from October
30 to November 10, 2007. Adolphe Sax was born in Dinant and invented the saxophone. |
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