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See how the other half lived in the grand rooms of the Royal Palace, one of whose wings now houses a museum devoted to the history of the Belgian royal family.

Deeply Art Nouveau mansion, built 1905–11.

This private mansion, designed by Josef Hofmann and decorated by Gustav Klimt, was the architectural shocker of its day (see Palais Stoclet).

True to Surrealist traditions, this artist (born 1940) creates machines, such as space ships, and stages clearly doomed attempts to make them work.

In 1880 King Léopold II staged a grand international fair to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of his nation. The vast exhibition halls he erected, together with their successors, now contain a cluster of major museums. By far the most spectacular is the Musées Royaux d’Art et d’Histoire, a rich collection of treasures from around the world, including archaeological finds, anthropological artifacts and decorative arts. Close by are the Musée Royal de l’Armée et d’Histoire Militaire (an extensive military museum) and Autoworld (a major collection of historic cars). The park also contains the extraordinary Atelier de Moulages (see Atelier de Moulages), and the Pavillon Horta, a Neo-Classical work designed by a young Victor Horta to house erotic sculpture by Jef Lambeaux (1852–1908).

The three major museums in this park have enough variety to appeal to all ages (see Parc du Cinquantenaire).

One of the larger hotels on the Zand, the Parkhotel is well-run, with elegant, easy-on-the-eye decor and efficient service. It overlooks the Zand, the spacious market square to the west of the city, and is 10 minutes from the city centre.

The Quartier Léopold is now dominated by the huge glass-and-steel barrel vault of the European Parliament building.

Interesting budget hotel with just 14 rooms, styled with exotic and Bohemian flair. It also has an adjacent “youth hotel”, with cheaper prices. It is attached to the equally alluring Gran Kaffee de Passage (see Gran Kaffee de Passage).

Every village and community in Belgium has a good pâtisserie; most shopping streets have several. These supreme concoctions of fresh fruit, chocolate, cream, crème pâtissière and, of course, pastry, are an integral part of Belgian life.