Brussels Escapades BRUSSELS ESCAPADES INTRODUCTION 1 Brussels is the capital of Europe and the seat of its institutions. The town there- Brussels fore has an air of Europe in many neighbourhoods. It offers a larger and larger Escapades variety of boutiques and restaurants that keep alive the memory or nostalgia of Introduction 1 countries member of the Union. But it is however not My Brussels in Winter 2 the cosmopolitan spirit that dominates and that would My Brussels in Spring 3 make us strangers – as if lost – which is what we can My Brussels in Summer 4 feel in some towns of the world. No, Brussels wel- My Brussels in Autumn 5 comes the family Europe in its diversity, including its cul- My Art Nouveau Brussels 6-9 tural diversity. My Comic Strip Brussels 10-13 But Brussels is also the capi- tal of Belgium. And fortu- My Brussels of Flavours 14-17 nately this is not erased by the “European invasion”. My Brussels on Wheels 18-19 The character of the coun- try continues to give out a My Brussels for Families 20-25 particular perfume, proba- bly more sensitive to those My Young Brussels 26-29 who always loved this country. It’s the pride of My Sporting Brussels 30-33 Brussels, to consolidate, against all odds, the exis- My Brussels on Sunday 34-37 tence of a nation of well © OPT/JP Remy defined specificities, as we One can taste the charm of the agitated climate that has My Gay Brussels 38-41 were reminded by the what was and remains taken hold of our large recent Anniversaries. Brussels, so well told of agglomerations. In Brussels, My Mini-trips to Brussels 42-49 And Brussels is also sung about by its lovers. one pays attention to whom “Bruxellois”, with its so Probably, had I been obliged, one passes and not only to My Brussels e-shop 50-51 charming and picturesque to typify, to select one known faces. For that alone, neighbourhoods, even if aspect of the spirit of the Brussels is unique. My Guided Visits 52-53 the madness of new con- “Bruxellois”, I would say the Jacques DELORS structions has taken hold of polite welcome, tinged with President of the Practical information 54-60 European Commission © JL Flémal the town since 50 years. kindness, contrasting with (from 1985 to 1995) 2 MY BRUSSELS IN WINTER MY BRUSSELS IN SPRING 3 concertos for violin attributed with skating rinks, animations and festivi- certainty to the prodigy. ties in a warm-hearted and festive > Info : www.bozar.be ambience. A programme of feasts and rejoicing: the Grand Place My brings out its magnificent Christmas My Théo Van tree, the quaint wooden huts offer Rysselberghe their European specialities and the Baroque merry-go-round settles in Brussels Centre for fine Arts the Place Sainte Catherine. Brussels From 10 February to 21 May > Info : www.brusselsinternational.be Key figure of neo-impressionism, the Belgian painter, of international in Winter renown, is exhibited in the frame- in Spring work of the great retrospectives of which Brussels has the secret. 2006, the Mozart Year Famous masterpieces, original pain- Brussels International tings, photos, works on paper and © Mimi Dooms Centre for fine Arts portraits of friends will make this Festival of January to June exhibition a cultural event of the story of Art Nouveau through some 400 objects having been exhibited Royal Greenhouses of Mozart celebrates his 250 years.An winter season not to be missed. Fantastic Film > or negotiated by Bing, an out- exceptional celebration demands an Info : www.bozar.be Passage 44 and Nova Laeken From 10 March to 25 March standing collector, who rapidly exceptional cycle! imposed himself as a precursor of Laeken Coming to honour him in Brussels are Pleasures of Winter The place to be for those who seek Asian art in Europe. Not to be missed. End of April to early May absolute references of his concert thrills. Each year it assembles thou- > Info : www.fine-arts-museum.be Imperative. Magnificent presentation works in a repertoire as genial as evi- Brussels Centre sands of fans attracted by blood, in a bright environment of glass bor- dent: the whole of the piano concertos From 2 December 2006 to 8 January horror and fright. dered by steel, the floral collections (except for the first four, composed 2007. > Info : www.bifff.org Gotlib Retrospective are a real treat to our senses. This during his childhood), and the five Christmas markets, cribs, concerts, Rysselberghe Van Belgian Comic Strip Centre visit is exceptionally authorised dur- From 25 April to 17 September ing two weeks every year. Champion of a generation who rein- > Info : www.monarchy.be vented the European comic strip, Gotlib created a masterly work of which the prime quality is to make Zinneke Parade his readers split their sides laughing, Boulevards of the centre of Brussels since over 40 years. Articulated On 13 May around the original works of Gotlib, 4000 participants will invade the this Retrospective wants to be a centre of Brussels to parade their hilarious tribute to this cult author. colourful and inventive costumes, > Info : www.comicscenter.net their crazy ideas and festive mood, on unidentified rolling objects. The nights of the The Zinneke Parade 2006 will be visionary and clairvoyant. Botanical Gardens > Info : www.zinneke.org Botanique From 29 April to 06 May Brussels Jazz Marathon Exhibition Rock humming and buzzing, electro vibrations, French words and other Bars and places in Brussels ”L’Art Nouveau – unclassifiable styles, the Nights From 19 to 21 May The BING House” colour your evenings in May. 3 days of great concerts for all ama- Programming ever so vitamin-filled teurs of jazz and its entrancing by- Royal Museum of Fine Arts and discoveries full of vitality, this products, but also, for all the lovers (Mont des Arts) festival is a landmark of musical of ambience and « live » music. From 15 March to 15 July quality. > Info : www.jazzmarathon.be This exceptional exhibition tells the > Info : www.botanique.be © BGE 4 MY BRUSSELS IN SUMMER MY BRUSSELS IN AUTUMN 5 The Masters of pre- Colombian art, the My My Janssen collection Musées royaux d’Art et d’Histoire From 15 September to 29 April 2007 Brussels Brussels The Janssen collection is known worldwide. With over 350 excep- tional works from the American continent, it retraces more than 3000 years of pre-Colombian art. in Summer in Autumn Statues of stone and clay, masks and gold jewellery, fabrics and feather creations, made by Olmecs, Mayas, Ommegang Incas, Aztecs and other civilisations, compose this superb collection. Grand-Place > Info : www.kmkg-mrah.be 4 and 6 July This procession is one of the most grandiose in Belgium. It evokes the of Africa, of the Caribbean , of Latin Designers’ trail America… Brussels on Sea splendour of a feast given in the Dansaert Quarter – Brussels > Info : www.couleurcafe.be honour of Charles V and his 16th c. Brussels From 27 to 29 October court. From 22 July to 22 August Every two years, the Dansaert quar- > Info : www.ommegang.be Royal Palace The Tropics in Brussels : fine sand, ter transforms itself, the duration of palm trees, pétanque, water sports a weekend, into the headquarters of The present edition will have a spe- Couleur Café Festival Annual opening of the Royal Palace and salsa bars will be the spicy the latest trends of fashion. cial touch to it, seeing that it takes From 24 July to 17 September ingredients of this sunny feast. Happenings, fashion shows, work- place during the Year of Fashion. Tour & Taxis The monumental staircase and the > Info : www.bruxelleslesbains.be shops and designer boutiques, Creative Brussels opens wide its From 30 June to 02 July reception halls are submitted to spe- animations… your itinerary will be a gates just for you. The growing success of this festival cial attention, especially since the new stroll through the summit of hype. > Info : www.modobruxellae.be is due to its explosive and lively pro- additions ordered by Queen Paola Flower Carpet gramming. Over 50 concerts make from contemporary renowned artists. Brussels Grand Place us discover the spellbinding rhythms > Info : www.monarchy.be from 11 to 15 August One million begonias for... a unique carpet ? It’s a realisation that is really out of this world. > Info : www.flowercarpet.be Heart at Work Museum of Natural Sciences From 14 December 2005 to 05 November 2006 Tribute to our most vital organ: the heart, the one that beats no less than 37.000.000 times per year and sometimes more when you’re in love, that gives an incredible amount of information on our health, that saves lives, and finally, that has been the object of the most intensive research. > Info : www.naturalsciences.be © Etienne Tordoir © Etienne © Etienne Tordoir © Etienne © Luc Cheffert 6 BRUSSELS ESCAPADES MY ART NOUVEAU BRUSSELS 7 New ➊ The Autrique House Access : Trams : 92 and 93 stop “Saint- from the Ancient Greece to the Servais” and 90 stop “Robiano“ - Bus : 65 music of Varèse in the 20th Century. Victor Horta’s first outstanding and 66 stop ”Robiano” and 59 stop My building, the Autrique House has “Herman“. many surprises in store for you : François Schuiten and Benoît ➋ Peeters, well-known figures in the Horta Museum world of the comic strips, conceived Home and workshop of the most Art an original scenography, turning this famous of Belgian architects, this house into a sort of “house of hous- magnificent house saw life by the es”, tribute to the private architec- will of Victor Horta to mix his private ture of Brussels as well as a gate and professional lives.