Organised by King Leopold II in 1897, the Congo Exhibition presented the fauna, flora, art and culture of the region so successfully that it became a permanent museum, housed in this building with a Louis XVI-style façade constructed by Girault betwe..

The castle, extensively restored in the late-19C, stands on the edge of a hilly park. It was bequeathed by its owner in 1921 and has belonged to the Flemish community since 1981. The Count of Egmont spent the last three years of his life here. It now..

This park is laid out with woodland areas alternating with lawns, lakes and lone-standing trees. Depending on the season, strollers will see clumps of hydrangeas, magnolias, rhododendrons, oak and maple trees. The Plant Palace has a signposted rout..

This 13C Beguine convent is one of the largest in Belgium. Its Baroque entrance (1671) is adorned with a niche housing a Virgin and Child. The current buildings, ornamented with gables and niches, date from the 17C and 18C. The former Apostelen conve..

This 14C Brabant Gothic basilica has a square tower topped by a corner pinnacle, a Baroque lantern and a 54-chime carillon. Note the South Porch with its Virgin and Child surrounded by angel musicians. The interior houses numerous artifacts an..

St Bernard laid the abbey's foundations in 1147, but the church and cloister were only built from 1198 to 1209. It was ransacked by Spaniards and local revolts in the 16C, then enclosed within fortifications in 1587. In 1789, the Austrians pillaged t..

This attractive church was built from the 13C (chevet, north transept) to 16C (bell-tower). The interior escaped the 16C iconoclasts and is a real museum of religious art, with a variety of fine altarpieces, triptychs, statues, gold and silverwork...

Originally, this Beguine convent (founded c 1230) included the district near the church. It was extended to 6 ha in the 17C and is the largest Beguine convent in Belgium. It was purchased by the university in 1962 and now accommodates students and le..

Among the La Hulpe hills are numerous castles and mansions, including the 220-ha Domaine Solvay. Formerly the property of the Solvay family who became rich in industry, it was bequeathed to the State. The magnificent park, dotted with lakes, is overl..

This vast garden planted with flowers and fine trees is home to over 1 000 animals. Note the rare or endangered species, tropical bird aviaries and lakes with many water fowl.

This church has a massive belfry nicknamed the "Pepperpot" due to its unusual shape. The interior includes superb keystones and stained-glass windows. The Flamboyant Gothic rood screen is the work of Mechelen sculptors. Note the south a..

This Gothic building has an outstanding tower (as wide as its nave) housing two carillons, of wonderful proportions with powerful yet light vertical lines. The harmonious cathedral interior is surprisingly large. Among the many works of art , no..

This fine Gothic building (13C-16C) is preceded by an impressive unfinished towered façade. The nave rests on cylindrical columns with crocket capitals. The elegant triforium is ringed by a gallery. Note the 16C Antwerp wooden altarpiece relating t..

This park flowing with water, compromising between formal French-type and romantic Italianate gardens, was conceived in the late 18C by one of the Montpellier family (owners of the estate since the 17C) members. It charms visitors with numerous and i..

The Oignies Priory treasury , saved from 1940 air raids, is housed in one room. Exhibits include early-13C evangelistaries and reliquaries by the Mosan monk Hugo d'Oignies, whose delicate skill can notably be seen in the black-background medallions ..

This fortress was named "Heartbreak Castle" after being razed by King Henri II of France's troops in 1554. A gate opposite the bottom of the steps was once part of the fortifications. The castle ruins offer a fine view of the town, church..

Three drawbridges restricted access to this castle whose existence is recorded as early as the 10C. Note the pure line of Vauban's staircase. The "Primitive" Chamber has stout walls, next to the Godefroy de Bouillon Chamber hollowed out of ..

Mariemont is named after Mary of Hungary, for whom J de Broeucq built the first castle in 1546. It was destroyed by Henri II, then immediately rebuilt and extended by W Coberger. In the park, there are ruins of another castle built by Charles of Lorr..

The early-16C castle was remodelled in the 17C and 18C. After a fire, the main building was rebuilt in 1902. Its rich collections of furniture, tapestries, paintings, sculptures and porcelain are worthy of a museum, but do not prevent the château f..

Work began in the 16C, then the gardens were altered by Prince Claude-Lamoral II's plans after advice from formal landscape gardeners. Prince Charles-Joseph Il added a pleasure garden. The park is laid out around a vista several miles long, the Gran..