Travelling to Belgium

[2WK]

Antwerp is great, if you are into fashion it is one of the most interesting cities. Brugge is cool for the medieval vibes.

Brussels is actually really great as well.
Check out Pierre Marcolini for Chocolates. Go to the original le Pain Quotidien for breakfast, and then go to the Leffe Bar.

 

[rwintle]

If you are interested in WWII history, the beaches at Normandy are not to be missed. Arromanches for example - there used to be all kinds of beach defenses, roundhouses and bunkers still there. I'm sure there are museums too - apologies, I haven't been there since the late 1970's (!) so not up to date. Not so tremendously far from Paris if you're there on a trip out from Belgium. Also convenient to Bayeux if you like your Norman conquest of England history (the tapestry is impressive, if perhaps not such a good photo subject). Dunkirk is also not far over the border from Belgium... there are so many other places evocative of both WWI and WWII in France.

Rouen is a lovely old city and has a Joan of Arc connection (she was imprisoned there before her execution).

You could go a farther into Brittany (Bretagne), which is wonderful - one of the last refuges of the marginalized Celtic peoples. The language (Breton) is astonishing - more like Welsh than anything else. Beautiful countryside and attractive little towns, and of course that lovely seacoast. St. Malo is a wonderful old port city with a Canadian connection, being the birthplace of Jacques Cartier. (Fun story - on visiting there, we wanted to see the statue commemorating him, so my father asked at the tourist information kiosk, in his best French, "Ou est Jacques Cartier?". The lady responded, predictably, "Il est mort." 😀

Final idea - if you should happen to make it that far (i.e., the base of the west side of the peninsula with Cherbourg at the end of it), then absolutely do not miss Mont Saint Michel. It is absolutely ridiculous, in a good way. A medieval city piled on a lump in the middle of a tidal plain that floods at high tide, it really has to be seen to be believed.

Sorry for the waffle, re-living some wonderful vacation days of my youth.

P.S. Of course, if you're in that general part of France and you've already been to Spa, you would have to go to Le Mans as well. 😉

 

[lukitas]

I wonder, would you send me to Toronto if I expressed an interest in visiting Quebec?

 

[Roger Hicks]

DO NOT TRY TO DO TOO MUCH. It's all too easy to say, "Well, I could fit in _______ as well." DON'T. For example, I wouldn't go near Italy on a trip to Belgium, even if I could stand Italy. I assume you're not planning that either, but it's easy to misread your post.

One of the astonishing things about Belgium is how many Belgians speak flawless English. Admittedly my few close Belgian friends don't, but they've very unusual.

Brittany is quite a long way, and not very welcoming. Breton is not very like Welsh -- it's all but identical to Cornish -- and I wouldn't go to Brittany either. The landscapes can be spectacular but only reason I can tolerate the region easily is good friends there and being a Cornishman: we share a common culture and a deep suspicion of foreigners (French, English, etc.)

Just stick with Belgium and perhaps Luxembourg. Or Cologne isn't that far. And, as others have said, Belgium makes possibly the biggest range of first-class beers in the world.

Cheers,

R.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

I'll second Cologne but beware of the camera shop! And there's Lille which was the capital of Flanders and gives train connections to almost everywhere in the world and WW1 tours. Plus it's a pleasant town with a student and tourist quarters. Eat in the first and walk round the second.

If going anywhere in Belgium look for cycle hire. Unlike the UK they act civilly towards cyclists in Belgium. And they don't sneer at cyclists parking their bikes outside cafes...

Regards, David

 

[Addy101]

Belgium, ehm, isn't that the stretch of land we Dutchies pass when we go to France? :angel:

As Roger mentioned, don't do to much. And don't travel too much, somebody mentioned the South of France, however, there is a lot in between Belgium and the South of France that you will be missing. Belgium is full of history, Brugge is a must do location as is Antwerpen and Gent. The Ardennes is not only famous for the Ardennes offensive (aka Battle of the Bulge) but also for its beautiful hills and woods, the city of Bastogne (Bastenaken) is a good starting point to visit the Ardennes.

In The Netherlands try to visit the Delta works, it is a magnificent piece of engineering in Zeeland province. Another place to visit in the Netherlands are the Bieschbosch, a unique nature reserve. Also do a daytrip to Den Bosch and make boattrip on the Benedendieze, it is a very nice experience.

If you're a WWII buff, you may consider the places connected to operation Market Garden near Eindhoven, Nijmegen and most notably Arnhem. However, Arnhem might be too far.

In Belgium, make sure you visit the city of Ieper (Ypres), it was completely rebuild after it was destroyed in WWI and that is an interesting experience even if you're not into WWI. Canadian troops fought during the second and third battle of Ieper. There are several other interesting WWI sites in Belgium and the North of France if you're interested.

Waterloo is in Belgium, so visit that. The Belgian coast really is nice, but the water will be cold in April. Visit Luxembourg, it is beautiful.

Some more advise. Belgium is bilingual (actual trilingual), however, a lot of Flemish folk don't want to speak French and a lot of Walloons don't want to speak Dutch. Just be aware of it.
Dutchies usually speak well enough English for a conversation, the French usually not. The Belgians are in between.

 

[rwintle]

smart aleck

smart aleck

I wonder, would you send me to Toronto if I expressed an interest in visiting Quebec?

If you read the OP, you will find the phrase "I'll be travelling to other close countries in that timeframe".

Last time I looked, France was close to Belgium.

 

[jonasv]

If you read the OP, you will find the phrase "I'll be travelling to other close countries in that timeframe".

Last time I looked, France was close to Belgium.

While you are absolutely right, I do have to wonder if it was worth reviving a four weeks old thread just to call another member a smart***.