Brussels audio guides

You're standing on the Grand Place, the ornate baroque heart of Brussels. Most of the gilded guildhalls you see were rebuilt after the French bombardment of 1695. Look up at the slender spire of the Town Hall — it's the only original facade. The square comes alive at sunset when the gold details glow.

The Atomium was built for the 1958 World's Fair as a symbol of progress. Its nine spheres represent an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. The top sphere offers panoramic views of Brussels and Mini-Europe below.

This small bronze fountain has been part of Brussels folklore since the 17th century. He owns hundreds of costumes, often changed for festivals. The original is safely in the Brussels City Museum on the Grand Place.

Opened in 1847, these elegant glass-roofed arcades are among Europe's oldest. Three sections — King's, Queen's and Princes' — host historic chocolatiers, bookshops and cafés.

You're in the heart of the European Union. The Berlaymont building hosts the European Commission, while the Parliament's Hemicycle is where 705 MEPs debate. Visit the Parlamentarium to understand how Europe takes its decisions.

Brussels celebrates the 9th art with over 60 giant murals. Look for Tintin and Snowy on rue de l'Étuve. Comics are part of Belgian identity, born here in the 1920s.

Sablon is the elegant face of Brussels — antique shops, premium chocolatiers and the gothic Notre-Dame du Sablon church. On weekends, an antique market fills the square.

From this terrace, you can see the spires of the Town Hall and the lower town. The geometric gardens were designed for Expo 58. Around you stand some of the city's finest museums.

Brussels' gothic cathedral, begun in the 13th century, hosts royal weddings and state ceremonies. Step inside to see the soaring nave and stained glass.

This monumental park and triumphal arch were built for Belgium's 50th anniversary in 1880. Three museums — Military, Autoworld and Art & History — surround the arch.