As you step out of the doors of your Brussels city hotel, a feast of culture, food and stunning architecture awaits you. You can sip coffee in the delightful little cafes dotted around beautiful medieval streets, or throw yourself into the bustling flea market at Place du Jeu de Balle. One thing that you must do is visit some of the original and varied museums that the capital city has to offer. There are a great number covering local and world history, as well as art and crafts. Here are a few unique examples.
Muse du Cacao et du Chocolat (Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate)
Belgium, known worldwide for its delicious, mouth watering chocolate, presents this delicious museum from which to delve into the world of chocolate. Located in the centre of Brussels, the Muse du Cacao et du Chocolat is within walking distance of the Grand Place. The museum will regale you with the history of cocoa from its Aztec and Mayan beginnings, to its voyage to European shores. The highlight of the museum is a demonstration given by a master chocolate maker; if you find yourself salivating, you won't be alone. The only question will be whether you can get all your chocolate purchases back to your Brussels city hotel.
Centre Belge de la Bande Dessine (Belgian Comic Strip Centre)
When venturing from your Brussels city hotel ready to discover the delights of the surrounds, do not overlook the Centre Belge de la Bande Dessine. This fascinating museum reveals the history of comic strips, from 'Journal de Mickey' to the ones populating the shops' shelves today. Great talent such as Georges Remi, Tintin's creator, and Andr Franquin, who formed Gaston Lagaffe, adorns the walls alongside newly discovered illustrators. It is worth a trip to the Centre Belge de la Bande Dessine just to view the beautiful building the museum is housed in. The 'Grand Magasin Waucquez' was designed by Victor Horta (who has his own museum) and is a masterpiece of Art Nouveau architecture.
The City Museum
The mayor of Brussels in 1884, Karel Buls, decided that a museum must be founded to document the rich and diverse history of the city. Starting out on only one floor of the King's House, it now encompasses the entire building. Inside is everything from tapestries and paintings, to documents and manuscripts, all showing a little piece of Brussels' history. All that culture not more than a bus ride from your Brussels city hotel; how can you resist?
Mini Europe
If you are looking for something a little bit different than the usual museum then you must take a trip to see Mini Europe. Europe has been shrunk down to a miniature size and you can now cross the entire continent on foot! You can walk past Big Ben one minute, then casually stroll through Berlin the next. Perhaps you fancy walking among the gondolas in Venice then trip across to Greece and lose yourself in the ancient ruins. As Europe grows, so does Mini Europe and recent additions have included Prague, Bratislava and Vilnius. You can travel from your Brussels city hotel to anywhere in Europe in a few short hours!
