Archaeology Travel guide Belgium
Reasons to Visit Belgium
Gothic Architecture,
Castles,
World War Memorials,
… and Belgian Waffles.
Interesting Things to Know About Belgium
A testament to Belgium’s prehistoric heritage, the country is home to the largest known Neolithic flint mine in Northwest Europe. Located at Spiennes, the mines spread across an area of over 100 hectares. The flint mines are now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, although many of them have yet to be excavated by archaeologists. Also on the UNESCO list are more recent coal mines, such as Bois-du-Luc and Grand-Hornu, symbols of the industrial revolution.
Historic Cities in Belgium
Archaeology & History Sites in Belgium
Flemish Béguinages
Beguinages were something unique to the Low Countries during the spiritual revival movement that began in the 13th century. Convent-like religious complexes, they were used to house the unmarried or widowed female beguines who, along with their male counterparts, the beghards, were spiritual lay persons that had devoted themselves to an ascetic life. Since 1998, UNESCO has given 13 different beguinages across Flanders the status of World Heritage Sites. Most remain inhabited but can be viewed freely from outside.
Grand Place, Brussels
Considered by many to be one of the most beautiful city squares in Europe, Brussels’ Grand Place exudes eloquence. Most of the guildhalls and other buildings that surround the square date to the late 17th century when, after a French bombardment left it almost completely in ruins, the square was rebuilt in a Gothic and Baroque style. With so many things to do when visiting Brussels, one place that simply cannot be missed is this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Gravensteen
Perhaps the most beautiful and impressive castle in the country, Gravensteen, or the “Castle of the Counts,” is a picturesque medieval castle in the centre of Ghent. Complete with moat, keep, and ramparts it is the quintessential medieval castle and the most intact of its kind in Flanders. Replacing an earlier timber fortification, the surviving castle was largely built in 1180 by Philip of Alsace as a statement of power over the rebellious people in Ghent. Today, the castle remains as a testament to the rich history of the Belgian people.
Manneken Pis
Only a five-minute walk from the Grand Place in Brussels, this quaint 17th century bronze statue attracts tourists from around the world. Depicting a cherub-like young boy unabashedly urinating into the basin of the fountain, it shows that the city of Brussels not only has a long and rich history but is also not without a sense of humour. It is worth a stop while exploring the city on a walking tour. Throughout the year, the statue can often be found dressed in different outfits.
Museums & Art Galleries in Belgium
In Flanders Fields Museum
Named after John McCrae’s famous war poem, the In Flanders Fields Museum focuses its attention on the devastation wrought by the First World War. Particular emphasis is placed on the war’s impact in Belgium, where over 600,000 people were killed during the conflict. Located in the historic cloth hall in Ypres, the museum outlines how the city was devastated by artillery bombardment and chemical warfare. Ypres itself was a place of enormous significance as it hosted five separate battles and was one of the locations for the Christmas Truce of 1914.
Royal Museum of Mariemont
Anyone interested in the wonders of the ancient world will find much to enjoy at the Royal Museum of Mariemont. Originally accumulated as the private collection of the wealthy industrialist Raoul Warocqué, the museum opened to the public in the early 20th century. Today, the museum houses a diverse assortment of antiquities from Greece, Rome, Egypt, the Near East, East Asia, and Pre-Columbian America. Also displayed are artefacts from the local Haine Valley, focusing on protohistory to the 7th century AD, as well as a vast collection of Tournai porcelain.
