Cities of Belgium

Belgium is a fairly small country in the western European continent and is divided into three linguistic regions, namely Flanders, Wallonia and the capital city Brussels. Some of the best cities of Belgium are located within these regions which offer many delightful attractions to the numerous tourists visiting the country. The cities of Belgium have an attractive blend of medieval and cosmopolitan charm. Here is a brief introduction to some of the interesting cities of Belgium.

•  Brussels (Capital)

•  Antwerp(Flanders)

•  Arlon (Wallonia)

•  Waterloo (Wallonia)

Brussels

As the capital of Belgium and the European Union (EU), Brussels is a city that offers an interesting mix of experiences ranging from the traditional to the cosmopolitan. The city is over 1000 years old and is also the bilingual capital of Belgium having two official languages- Dutch and French. From exploring the city's cultural heritage amidst the ancient monuments to some great shopping and fine dining, Brussels makes for an ideal tourist destination.

Some of the major tourist attractions in the city of Brussels are:

•  The Grand Place

•  Royal Museum of Fine Arts

•  The Heysel Exhibition Park,

•  Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Koekelberg,

•  The Jubilee Arch,

•  Manneken Pis

•  De Munt/La Monnaie

Antwerp

Besides being the second largest city of Belgium, Antwerp is also known as the diamond center of the world. Antwerp is a metropolitan city which has developed into the fashion capital of Belgium. It takes time for a visitor to fully explore many different facets of this fascinating city.

The city of Antwerp houses some of the most splendid architectural delights even though the Second World War had greatly damaged the face of the old town. The city's past is represented by several paintings of the 17 th century artist named Peter Paul Rubens, who lived in Antwerp.

Arlon

Arlon is located in the Wallonia region of Belgium, nearby to the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg with a population of around 24,000 people. Arlon is one of the smaller cities of Belgium which have preserved its old world charm. As the capital of the Luxembourg province it constitutes a number of houses of Luxembourgian and Belgian-oriented neo-styles of the late 19th century. Arlon is the perfect destination for people looking for a less crowded and quite getaway.

Waterloo

Waterloo is located in the Walloon province of Belgium with a population of only 20,000 people. The city owes its historical significance to the famous Battle of Waterloo fought between the French, under Napoleon Bonaparte, and the Allied armies of Britain and Prussia.

In the present times, Waterloo has developed into an important economic, cultural and tourist center attracting visitors from different parts of the Globe.

The other cities of Belgium include Bruges, Ghent, Namur, Bastogne, Mons, Liege, Spa, Tornai, Lier and Dinant among many others.