Walloon Brabant – from Napoleon to Tintin (3XL)
Discover our insider tips in Wallonia!
- 3 nights with breakfast in a good 4* hotel in Brussels
- 3 dinners at the hotel
- City tour of Brussels
- Admission to the Waterloo Memorial
- Entrance to the Solvay Foundation Park, one of the most beautiful gardens in Wallonia
- Entrance to the Hergé Museum Foundation, the creator of Tintin
- Entrance to the Abbey of Villers-la-Ville
South of Brussels, in the north of Wallonia, perhaps the most important battle of the 19th century took place. It was here that Napoleon’s defeat was sealed and the foundations were laid for Europe as we know it. Contemporary witnesses such as the abbey ruins of Villers-la-Ville bear witness to a rich past dating back to the early Middle Ages. But modern Belgium is also on the program. In addition to the European capital Brussels, you will visit the beautiful gardens of the Solvay Foundation and the unique Comic Museum in Hérges
After your journey towards Brussels, you will immerse yourself in history: The Domain of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 is a unique site in Belgium, combining both a memorial and a historical museum. The museum includes uniforms, historical objects, animated maps and a never-before-seen 3D film. The Panorama building shows scenes from the battle on a huge screen 110 meters long and 12 meters high, and visitors can climb the 226 steps to the top of the Lion Hill for a view of the entire battlefield. Afterwards, continue to the center of Brussels for an overnight stay in a hotel.
Today, the Belgian capital is on the agenda. Brussels is a jewel in the heart of Europe and its central point is the Grand-Place. The square, which is surrounded by magnificent Gothic and Baroque buildings, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town hall (Hôtel de Ville) and the Maison du Roi (Broodhuis) are particularly eye-catching. A stroll across the square offers the opportunity to admire the intricate facades of the guild houses. A detour to the Manneken Pis is a must. The little boy, who has been urinating unimpressed for centuries, is a symbol of Brussels’ humor and serenity. The European Quarter with the modern buildings of the EU institutions and of course the Atomium, which towers over the city from the Heysel Plateau, is also a ›must‹.
This day is all about modern art. You will visit the Folon Foundation and the domain of the Solvay Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to the Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon (1934–2005). He was a graphic artist, illustrator, painter and sculptor. Folon’s works, watercolors, sculptures and paintings have been exhibited in all the world's renowned museums, including New York, Paris, Florence and Japan. The artist has his own museum in the form of the ›Fondation Folon‹, which he founded on October 28, 2000. The museum is located in the park of the Solvay domain in La Hulpe, a few kilometers outside of Brussels. More than three hundred works are on display in fifteen exhibition rooms. After visiting the museum, stroll through the park of the Solvay Foundation, which is one of the most beautiful gardens in Wallonia. In the afternoon, visit the Hergé Museum in Louvain-La-Neuve. It was opened in 2009 and displays the work of the Belgian comic author and illustrator Hergé, the creator of ›Tintin‹ (originally called TinTin). It is the first museum in Europe dedicated to a comic artist. The exhibition area covers a total of 2000 square meters. The exhibits include numerous original drawings, title pages, first prints, source material, as well as Hergé’s personal items and private photographs.
The majestic ruins of the Cistercian Abbey of Villers reflect different architectural styles and are considered one of the most beautiful architectural sites in Europe. The brotherhood has planted vines on the site of the ruins of the Cistercian abbey of Villers-la-Ville in the south of the province of Walloon Brabant, reviving an old practice from the 12th century that was discontinued during the French Revolution. Consisting of one level and four terraces, this enchanting green spot is a real eye-catcher in the landscape and a successful end to your trip.