Museums in Brussels - Belgium
Museums in Brussels - Belgium World Travel www.youtube.com/user/World1Tube Brussels - Belgium Travel guide bit.ly/HPaiOv Muséum des Sciences Naturelles (Natural Sciences Museum) Close to the European Parliament and containing what is claimed to be one of the finest dinosaur collections in the world ('starring' the iguanadons of Bernissart), this fascinating museum additionally features a special presentation on the Arctic and Antarctic regions. There is an extensive permanent marine mammals exhibition. All forms of wildlife, extinct and extant, plus mineralogy, are represented here. Opening Times: Tues-Fri 0930-1700, Sat-Sun 1000-1800. Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes Unesco: No Address: Rue Vautier 29, Brussels, Belgium Musée du Cinquantenaire Everything conceived by Léopold II was on a grandiose scale and the Parc du Cinquantenaire, built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Belgian independence, is no exception. The Musée de l'Armée, situated in the north wing, has an interesting display of vintage aircraft and free entrance. However, the Musée du Cinquantenaire is the major draw card of the area. Boasting collections from five continents, ranging from prehistory to the present, it includes art nouveau furniture designed by Victor Horta and fine examples of centuries-old lace. Comic strip fans might find some pieces familiar - the large Egyptian collection was the source of inspiration for Belgium's artists, including Hergé. Opening Times: Tues-Fri 0930-1700, Sat-Sun 1000-1700. Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes Unesco: No Address: Parc du Cinquantenaire 10, Brussels, Belgium Musée Horta (Horta Museum) Architect Victor Horta (1885-1946) worked to produce some 110 buildings, first in neo-gothic style, famously in art nouveau and latterly in sparse modernist style. Many (such as the Hôtel Solvay, Avenue Louise 224, and Hôtel Van Eetvelde at Avenue Palmerston 4) are still standing. However, the Musée Horta (the architect's former home and studio) is beautifully preserved and open to the general public. Attention to detail sweeps through the building, from the vertical letterbox and finely scripted number 25 on the facade to the sculpted staircase and dining room floor, where a marble mosaic encircles the finest American ash. A theatrical arrangement of secret front doors allowed the architect to welcome guests from different social and religious backgrounds without their being aware of each other's presence. Opening Times: Tues-Sun 1400-1730. Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes Unesco: Yes Address: Rue Américaine 25, Brussels, Belgium Musée BELvue (BELvue Museum) This upbeat museum is dedicated to the major periods of Belgium's history since Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo in 1830. The permanent collection is themed around the reigns of each of the country's monarchs. The building itself is located at the scene of the 1830 Belgian Revolution which led to the establishment of an independent state. Opening Times: Tues-Fri 1000-1700, Sat-Sun 1000-1800. Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes Unesco: No Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique (Belgian Royal Museums of Fine Art) and the Musée Magritte (Magritte Museum) The most important of Belgium's museum complexes is located close to Place Royal. It boasts three rich museums, their collections ranging from the 14th century to the modern day. The Musée d'Art Ancien (Museum of Ancient Art), housed in the former court of Charles de Lorraine, excels in its Old Masters, with works by Rubens, Bouts and Memling. Collections of Brueghel the Elder and Younger and Hieronymus Bosch are small, as Belgium's foreign masters took most of these treasures away with them. A passageway leads to the underground Musée d'Art Moderne (Museum of Modern Art), with its splendid collection of Belgian Surrealist art including haunting works by René Magritte and Paul Delvaux. Picasso, Chagall, Henry Moore and Francis Bacon are represented too. The new Musée Magritte, occupies three floors and presents a chronological examination of Magritte's art and its context. Opening Times: Tues-Sun 1000-1700 (late opening at the Musée Magritte until 2000 on Wed). Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes Unesco: No Address: Place Royale 1-2, Brussels, Belgium Musée du Cacao et du Chocolat (Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate) This delightful little museum located in a magnificent 17th century house on a corner of the Grand-Place pays homage to one of Belgium's most famous products. It traces the history of chocolate from the time of the old Maya Empire, and explains the production processes involved in making the modern sweet delicacy, including audio-visual presentations and demonstrations by masters of the chocolatier's art. Opening Times: Tues-Sun 1000-1630 (open Mon during Belgium holidays). Admission Fees: Yes Disabled Access: Yes Unesco: No Address: Rue de la Tête d'Or 9-11, Brussels, Belgium
