Last look around Brussels...

Above is a 360 deg. look around the magnificent Grand-Place.

We have to give a big shout-out to our generous hosts Anne & Denis in Brussels who always go out of their way to make each visit memorable. 

One of the great things about our location here in Touraine is our access to road, rail and air travel which makes traveling in Europe a real pleasure. Our journey consisted of drive to Chatellerault train station to catch the very comfortable TGV train to Paris Montparnasse. Transfer to Gare de Nord where we caught the Eurodrive to Brussels at 132 euros return each.

Sunday bench - three more from Brussels.

 

Diversity on the streets of Brussels...

 

Brussels' Basilique Nationale du Sacré-Cœur...a last look.

While Pauline, Angela and Dennis were happy to finish Sunday in the centre of the city I had something else I wanted to see. The National Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Koekelberg, it is a striking Art Deco landmark and one of the world's largest churches so two for one for me.

Inspired* by Paris' Sacré-Cœur, it was conceived as a national shrine to commemorate Belgian independence. King Leopold II laid the symbolic first stone in 1905 (75th anniversary of independence). Designed by architect Albert Van Huffel (who died in 1935), construction started in 1926 but dragged on due to World Wars I and II, finally completed in 1971 after 65+ years.

Vast Art Deco interiors with mosaics, sculptures, museums and occasional exhibitions; it's also a parish church and pilgrimage site.

*Originally, Leopold I dreamed of a royal residence on the hill; his son Leopold II pivoted to a "Belgian Panthéon" for national heroes (inspired by Paris' Panthéon), then shifted to a Sacred Heart basilica after visiting Paris' version.

Apparently locals joke it's the city's 'white elephant' due to its remote location but it is wort the trek in my humble opinion.

More of being tourists in Brussels...

After our treasure hunt at the Jeu de Balle flea market we headed up past the Palais de Justice to the giant Ferris wheel known as "The View" which gives great views over the city.

Back down on terra firma we headed over to Mont des Arts / Kunstberg,  to let Dennis and Angela view one of our favourite collection of facades which include the fabulous Musical Instrument Museum, it is housed in the former Old England department store, a masterpiece of Art Nouveau architecture

We made our way to the top of Mont des Arts and were rewarded with this magnificent view across the city.

The Carillon du Mont des Arts is a really nice surprise if you happen to be in the area when it is in action and we were! It is a huge star-faced clock you pass under as you make your way down to the old part of the city.  

We ended the day relaxing with a beer before heading back to Anne & Denis', well I had another idea...more on this tomorrow.

Shop windows in brussels...

 

As we walked our way around brussels we spotted some interesting shopfronts,like the one above which currently houses the Grasshopper Toys shop. Its elegant, classic storefront with signage remnants or architectural features evoke its past as a grand magasin.

This window caught our eye, never expected a frites museum. We did not visit but reading the reviews we maybe should have, apparently you can have a good couple of hours finding out about the history of the potato plus you get some frites at the end of your visit.

This shop was also a who knew? moment a duck store! Must have been really busy on the 13th of January which is National Rubber Ducky Day but the rest of the year?