Chocolate Lovers
Belgian chocolate has been the food of champions, a lure for lovers,
the indulgence of the rich and later, the favorite of the masses.
Belgium produces 172,000 tons
of chocolate per year with more than 2,000 chocolate shops throughout
the country.
Pralines in Belgium are sublime
chocolate confections. A beautifully sculpted chocolate shell conceals
a center of filling which explodes with a surprising texture and flavor
in your mouth. Many chocolatiers still make their pralines by hand.
Every town and even small villages have chocolate stores with luxurious
pralines. Visit Brussels to find some of the world's finest chocolates! You can read more about Belgian Chocolate by visiting http://www.visitbelgium.com/chocolate.htm
Beer Lovers
"Beauty lies in the hands of the beer holder." - Anonymous
Nowhere is this more true than in Belgium with over 450 different varieties of beer, many with personalized beer glasses in which that beer, and only that beer, may be served. The shape of each glass is made to enhance the flavor of the beer it is designed for. This strict beer seperatism may seem like behavior usually reserved for wine snobbery, but Belgians do take their beer seriously - and with good reason. Belgium has enjoyed an unparalleled reputation for its specialty beers since the Middle Ages. Connoisseurs favor Belgian beers for their variety, real flavor and character.
There are almost as many beer styles as there are breweries in the small kingdom of Belgium. The choices are endless when you consider raspberry beer, white beer, chocolate beer, geuze beer, cherry beer, brown beer Trappist beer and of course the beer that Belgium is most famous for - the lambic beer. Lambic beer is made with an ancient style of brewing, depending on spontaneous fermentation to produce a bone-dry, profoundly tart, and naturally effervescent drink that improves with years in the bottle - much like wine. By European Union regulation, it can be produced only in a small area in Belgium. Find more info at http://visitbelgium.com/chocolate.htm
Art & Architecture Lovers
The capital Brussels is renowned
for its architecture (medieval, Gothic, Art Nouveau and Art Déco), the Grand Place (an old market square surrounded by
buildings from 16th - 18th centuries), the Royal Palace, its pubs, gallerias
with expensive boutiques (some say the oldest covered shopping arcades
in the world) and its lifestyle. Further, the Atomium (some may call it the Belgian Eiffel
Tower) is built on the Expo ‘58 site.
The fine art scene in Belgium
is plentiful and diverse. You will find such significant works
by Peter Paul Rubens and Jan van Eyck or more whimsical works of Peyo
– creator of the Smurfs.
Here are some resources for
finding museums to suit any art lover:
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/museums/art-museums-in-belgium.html
http://www.artsite.be/sjabloon.htm
http://www.visitbelgium.com/artandarchitecture.htm
Shopping Lovers
For designer shopping – you don’t have to go to Paris to find the good stuff! Avenue Louise – a short walk from Grand Place – is the place to go! It's sometimes jokingly referred to as Brussels' response to Paris' Champs-Elysees. Stephanie's square houses upscale restaurants and shops.
Other shopping interests while in Belgium would include: Lace, diamonds and tapestries. Find all shopping info conveniently: http://www.visitbelgium.com/markets.htm.
Food Lovers
Certainly – you can get fries or waffles on the street corner from a vendor. But, don’t be fooled, Belgium has a lot more to offer Foodies than just these local treats. If a restaurant, old or new, isn’t quite ‘cutting the mustard’ – it’s out of business. Belgium is a melting pot of cultures and this is clearly represented in the variety of cuisines available. There are more than 2000 restaurants in Brussels alone, so it would be difficult to name them all. But suffice it to say that whether you’re in the mood for traditional Belgian cuisine or international fare, you're covered.
Information on local festivals, markets, restaurants and even culinary classes/gastronomy tours can all be found here: http://www.visitbelgium.com/food.htm
Antique Lovers
For antique shopping in Brussels, look no further than Place du Sablon. This is the most significant concentration of antique dealers in all of Belgium.
www.Sablonantiquemarket.com
For a listing of all Belgium antique and flea markets, please follow this link: www.visitbelgium.com/markets.htm.
