Places in Brussels
 Grand Place
The Grand Place, the central square of Brussels, has long been witness to the city's trading traditions. Though more oriented towards cuisine and entertainment these days, there are still historic guildhalls that do business there. The Grand Place originated in the 12th Century and consistently grew to become one of Europe's premiere trading points until it was destroyed by the French king Louis XIV in the 17th Century. The rebuilding effort was quick, though, and the square was soon after in its finest form ever. Today, apart from the Baroque guildhalls, it offers splendid examples of architecture, including the Hotel de Ville with its 100-meter-high tower. During the summer, the Grand Place is a cool venue for numerous open-air concerts.
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 St.Michel Cathedral
Another architectural symbol of the city is the Cathedrale des Sts Michel and Gudule, named after the two patron saints of Brussels. Its history is fascinating. Construction began in 1226 and took nearly three centuries to complete! The prolonged construction effort resulted in a true mixture of styles, in which the cathedral's oldest sections are Romanesque while the newest parts exhibit the finesse of the Renaissance.
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 Low Town
Both the Cathedral and the Grand Place are located in the so-called Lower Town, the more historic part of the city. The Upper Town is characterized by wide alleys, along which stand many modern monumental buildings. This is where the Belgian Parliament and other government buildings sit, and also some of the museums and top-notch shops.
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 The Royal Museum
If you associate Northern Europe with painting masters, then Brussels is one of the most obvious places to go. Its Royal Museum of Art has hundreds of paintings, but their collection of masterpieces from Pieter Breughel (the Elder) is a must-see.
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 European Parliament
The EU Parliament's sightseeing potential was slightly derided above, but since the organization's heart beats in Brussels, it is worth taking a look at a bit of those famed headquarters. Perhaps the most impressive sight is the glass-and-steel European Parliament building, built in 1998. The EU area, however, hardly resembles the Grand Place; it's all about work, and over the weekends it becomes literally deserted.
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