Belgium & Luxembourg

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Includes  Why Go? Brussels...... 73 Stereotypes of comic books, chips and sublime chocolates are Flanders...... 84 just the start in eccentric little Belgium, its self-deprecating Antwerp...... 85 people have quietly spent centuries producing some of Europe’s finest art and architecture. Bilingual Brussels is the Ghent...... 89 dynamic yet personable EU capital, but also sports what’s Bruges...... 92 arguably the world’s most beautiful city square. Flat, Flem- Ypres...... 96 ish Flanders has many other alluring medieval cities, all Mons...... 98 easily linked by regular train hops. In hilly, French-speaking Luxembourg City. . . 99 Wallonia, the attractions are contrastingly rural – castle villages, outdoor activities and extensive cave systems. Independ- Moselle Valley. . . . 103 ent Luxembourg, the EU’s richest country, is compact and hilly with its own wealth of castle villages. The grand duchy’s capital city is famed for banking but also sports a fairy-tale Best Places Unesco-listed historic Old Town. And from the brilliant beers to Eat of Belgium to the sparkling wines of Luxembourg’s Moselle ¨¨L’Ogenblik (p81) Valley, there’s plenty to lubricate some of Europe’s best dining. ¨¨La Cristallerie (p102) ¨¨Den Gouden Harynck (p95) When to Go ¨¨De Stove (p95) Brussels ¨¨De Ruyffelaer (p98) °C/°F Te mp Rainfall inches/mm 40/104 6/150

30/86 4/100 Best Places 20/68 to Stay 10/50 ¨¨Chambres d’Hôtes du 2/50 0/32 Vaudeville (p77) -10/14 0 ¨¨Main Street Hotel (p97) J FDM A M J J A S O N ¨¨Guesthouse Nuit Blanche (p93) Pre-Easter week- Feb–Mar Both Jul–Aug Countless ends Belgium countries sym- festivals, hotels ¨¨Auberge Aal Veinen hosts many of bolically burn the packed at the (p103) Europe’s weirdest spirit of winter on coast but cheaper ¨¨Bed, Bad & Brood (p87) carnivals, not just the first weekend in Brussels and at Mardi Gras. after Carnival. Luxembourg City. 73 Belgium & Luxembourg Brussels

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