Belgium

Belgium is a facinating country with a long history of contrasting cultures and languages. Bordered with France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, Belgium’s provinces take the best of all of these regions and merge them together in an exciting blend of culture and style.

The contributions that these different nations have made to the forming of Belgium’s modern face are evident. From paintings to architecture you can see the influences of the Flemish Renaissance and major examples of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque architecture scattered amongst the cities. With huge contrasts in pace of life, cuisine and scenery Belgium has something for everyone. Live it up in the vibrant city of Antwerp, chill out in a trendy café in Brussels or explore the medieval streets of Bruges – each city is full of surprises.

Belgium’s landscape is a soft, gradually rising scene irrigated by numerous waterways with lush, fertile valleys and sandy plains, making it the perfect setting for adventure sport lovers. Activities such as kayaking, rafting, skiing, mountain biking, quad biking or rock climbing are rife and will certainly keep you busy.

Bruges

Often described as the ‘Venice of the North’, Bruges is a city that at first glance seems to have been suspended in time many centuries ago. A fantastic medieval jewel, Bruges still has most of its ancient architecture in tact which provides an intriguing insight into its past. First founded by the Vikings in the 9th Century, Bruges is bursting with museums, monuments and historic buildings such as the Belfry Tower with its 366 steps just calling out to be climbed.

As well as its historical centre, Bruges is a picturesque delight made up of a network of canals which offer boat trips and bicycle trails for a close-up view of the city. If you’d like to venture further afield during your visit, why not check out the nearby theme parks, vineyards or planetarium?

Food and Drink

Perhaps one of the best things about Belgium is its food – fusing the flavour of French cuisine and the portion size of German – get ready to tuck into some of the most extravagent and tasty dishes you’ll find in this part of Europe. Firm favourites for locals and visitors alike are mussels and fries, waffles and of course, Belgian chocolate!

Belgium is also world renowned for its beers and produces over 500 varieties of the hoppy stuff! So when you’ve worn yourself out exploring the tiny medieval streets of Bruges, shopping in Antwerp, kayaking or taking part in an adventure activity, get yourself down to the nearest pub and chill out with a well deserved cold one…

More great pictures from Belgium…

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