If ever a city could claim split personality,
it’s Brussels. French versus Flemish, historic versus hip, bizarre versus
boring. Full of contrasts, contradictions and intrigue, this is a multicultural
equation that goes much deeper than just red tape and Eurocrats. An historic
heirloom is closer to the mark. And in an age where so much is already
discovered, Belgium’s capital seduces as one of Western Europe’s unknowns.
Brussels is a city of fine food, café culture,
Art Nouveau architecture and the surreal. Pull up a chair and join
laissez-faire locals who value the city’s casual atmosphere. Watch money go
down on swish Ave Louise or buy dried caterpillars just blocks away in Matonge,
the capital’s African quarter. Some of the world’s most enduring images of
surrealist art were created in the nondescript northern suburb of Jette. And
the architecture ranges from monumental edifices such as the Grand Place to
organic Art Nouveau façades and the EU’s real-life Gotham City.Constant
among all this is the quality of everyday life – the shopping’s great, the
restaurants fab, the chocolate shops sublime and the pub scene extraordinary.
For a long time Brussels didn’t go out of its way to impress, but its stint as
Cultural Capital of Europe in 2000 saw the city dusted
and polished in a flurry that brought renewed life to historic buildings and
decaying streets. A new spirit, just short of cockiness, emerged, flaming
outside interest and inner-city regeneration. Nearly a decade on, Brussels is looking
better than ever..jpg)
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