"Get off the road..." [as car passes by]
Hi I'm Mike of Mike's Road Trip, and on this episode I feature five fantastic
places beyond Brussels here in Belgium brought to you by Allianz Travel.
Now Belgium is a very easy country to get around, whether you're road tripping or
taking a train, and it is well known for many of those tasty treats we all adore...
like rich chocolate, fluffy waffles french fries, which are called fritz here,
as well as a robust beer selection, so come along with me and let me show you
around...
Brussels is the unofficial capital of the European Union, and while it's a fine
city to visit, in this video I am focusing on some of the more enchanting
places within the country.
Geographically Belgium is incredibly well suited to explore some of the most popular places in Europe, from Paris to Amsterdam,
Dusseldorf to Luxembourg. But the country has some remarkable cities itself.
In this video I showcase Leuven, Antwerp, Dinant, Ghent, and the most popular with tourists...Bruges.
Leuven is a lively university town just a 25 minute train ride from Brussels. The
picturesque core of the city is small enough that you can easily see all the
sights in a short day trip, however the charming character may
induce you to stay a couple of nights. During the winter months, outdoor dining
is at a minimum, however as spring rolls around this is considered the longest
bar in the world due to its abundance of pubs. And winter ushers in the cheer
the holidays with a superb Christmas market. Celebrating their educational
heritage and thirst for knowledge, this sculpture symbolizes an internal
student and fountain of wisdom known as Franke.
Let me tell you, there are a lot of bike riders here... you got to keep your eyes peeled.
Located in the southern part of Belgium Dinant is an exquisite village situated
along the banks of the Meuse River. Dinantis known as the saxophone city as
it was home to its inventor Adolphe Sax. Beautiful saxophone sculptures line the
Charles DeGaulle bridge, each uniquely painted to represent a city where jazz
music is well known. Beneath Dinant's romantic facade lies a rich history that
emanates from every corner. It's a city that begs to be explored above and below.
While the city lies along the river banks with its most recognizable
structure being the Notre Dame de Dinant Cathedral, high above the city is a
fortified Citadel which can be accessed by a short gondola ride, or by walking a
series of very steep steps.
Antwerp is the second-largest city in Belgium and is known for being the
world's diamond trading hub. I's train station is one of the most impressive in
all of Europe. During the holiday season, the city really comes alive with lots of
Christmas lights and markets, special festive installations, holiday music and
many activities, such as ice skating, amusement rides and ethereal
congregation areas to enjoy the seasonally traditional glu wine.
Ghent is not nearly as well known as Bruges, but I would argue equally charming. Its pedestrianized city center is full of medieval architecture, with a tributary
river snaking through, adding to the allure.
The city is brimming with
activity but it's not overcrowded like Bruges. One of the best ways to see the
city is with one of these tour boats, which also provides a history lesson
into the city's interesting past, such as the signing of the Treaty of Ghent,
ended the war of 1812 against the British and Americans.
One of the most imposing structures in Ghent is the Gravenstin castle which was built in the 10th century, providing panoramic city views as well as a glimpse into the past.
All right, now I am in Bruges, the most popular city and all of Belgium, and
for good reason, this place is incredibly enchanting.
Known as the Venice of the north, Bruges is undeniably appealing with its distinguished canals,
cobblestone streets, large market squares with soaring towers and medieval buildings, its popularity comes as no surprise.
No matter how far you walk, no matter the direction, you'll find your head turning
back and forth to make sure you don't miss anything. Around every corner there
seems to be something new and special to see. They say Bruges is a fairy tale city,
but Disney has nothing on this place!
Well that's it from Belgium. I'd like to thank Allianz Travel for making this
video possible.
If you enjoyed this video, please hit the like button and don't
forget to subscribe for more Road Trip travel videos. So until next, time we'll
see on the road...
MikesRoadTrip.com