Unique Europe Roadtrip

About the destination: Charleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. By January 1, 2008, the total population of Charleroi was 201,593. The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of 1,462 square kilometres (564 sq mi) with a total population of 522,522 by January 1, 2008, ranking it as the 5th most populous in Belgium after Brussels, Antwerp, Liège, and Ghent. The inhabitants are called Carolorégiens or simply Carolos.

About the destination: From its awe-inspiring medieval heart to its 21st-century shrine to Surrealism, the new Magritte Museum, Brussels offers the visitor far more than just beer and chocolate and is strikingly different from its unfortunate dull image as the home of EU bureaucrats. Indeed, Brussels is a creative, vibrant city. Its compact city centre is packed with pubs, restaurants and museums set along cobbled streets. Inevitably, most tourists head to the Grand-Place. With its ornate Flemish guild houses, impressive Town Hall and buzzing atmosphere, it would be hard to find a more beautiful square in all of Europe. It rightly is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is the city’s crowning glory. Wander next to the nearby Royal and Sablon districts brimming with art galleries and antique shops. Toss away your map and wander down a myriad side streets, discovering flea markets, art-deco houses and boutique shops. The Bruxellois take pride in their self-deprecating, intellectual sense of humour, underpinned by a strong appreciation of the bizarre. The city has a long-standing love affair with the Surrealist art movement, pioneered by René Magritte, and with classic comic strips, epitomised by Hergé's boy hero, Tintin. There's a telling irony in the fact that the city's best-known landmark is the Manneken-Pis, a tiny statue of a urinating boy. Meanwhile, all of this sits alongside world-class collections of art, fabulous cooking including mussels, chips, waffles and whelks, some of Europe’s best and unique beers (literally, there are thousands of varieties), and master-chocolatiers. The city’s cultural calendar is packed with events for everyone from the massive, rowdy Foire du Midi street fair every July brimming with stalls and fairground attractions to the legendary Christmas Market that takes centre stage in the Place Sainte Catherine with 240 stalls, a skating rink, a big wheel, and numerous rides. One of the biggest events is Art Brussels, showcasing the city’s edgier, creative side and a hub for art connoisseurs from around the world. If you’re a Euro-loving national, check out the European Quarter, centred around Schuman and the Berlaymont. Its liveliest part is the Place du Luxembourg: all its pubs fill up around 6pm on weekdays with some of the 20,000 diplomats, politicians and civil servants who reside in the city after Brussels became the centre of international politics following WWII. Open your eyes and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by all that Brussels has to offer.

About the destination: Bruges is Europe's sleeping beauty. It's the best-preserved example of northern Renaissance architecture in Europe, with the beauty of its romantic canals and remarkable facades matched only by its art. Bruges is like a museum turned inside out, displayed with a loving touch and subtlety that most curators can only dream of. After dark, buildings and canals are beautifully lit up and the sight is simply breathtaking. The centre of town is the Markt, a gorgeous square presided over by the remarkable Beffroi, a medieval bell tower and one of the city's most prominent symbols. For a beautiful panorama of the city’s circular perimeter, climb the steps of the Beffroi. The 14th century Stadhuis, the town hall, is a good example of flamboyant Gothic architecture. Many Flemish masters worked in Bruges, some of their masterpieces are housed in the excellent Groeninge Museum. The perfectly preserved medieval tower of Our Lady's Church is the highest tower in Bruges. The Church of our Lady contains Michelangelo´s soft and touching Madonna and Child, there is also a fantastically ornate wood pulpit. Located in the right-hand corner of Burg Square, the Basilica of the Holy Blood, dating from 1150, is made up of a Romanesque lower chapel and a Gothic upper chapel. The two levels are strikingly different: the Romanesque lower level is austere with little ornamentation, whereas the Gothic upper level is vibrant with colourful detail. The two chapels are connected by a grand brick staircase, which climbs behind the grand facade facing the square. Today’s stairs and facade are a 19th-century reconstruction of the 1533 Renaissance versions, demolished during the French occupation following the French Revolution. The Minnewater, known as the Lake of Love, and its lovely park is one of the first things you see in the city of Bruges, when arriving by train or coach. The lake and surrounding park offer an excellent retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city`s sights and streets. The many resident swan couples add the finishing touch to its romantic character. At the Lake of Love, Bruges seems even more picturesque than usual. Bruges is charmingly medieval and a unique place. Walking along its alleys, picturesque canals and verdant ramparts, you can't help but fall hopelessly in love with her elegant mysteriousness.

About the destination: Antwerp is situated on the eastern bank of the river Scheldt, which is connected to the North Sea by the Westerschelde estuary. The city boasts one of the largest seaports in Europe. Antwerp has long been a significant city in the Low Countries, both economically and culturally. The appeal of Antwerp comes from its unique blend of styles and peoples. First, there's the straightforward part of town around Centraal Statio; the shipping, diamond, and garment industries have their headquarters here. Then there's the art and culture that wealth has purchased over the centuries. Flemish Old Masters, particularly native son Rubens, are well-represented here. Lastly, there is the immense port with its own smoky trees. There is more to see and do in Antwerp than in any other Belgian city. Start with a stroll through the oude stad, old town, starting at Grote Markt, where the Stadhuis, town hall, stands as a magnificent example of Renaissance architecture. The nearby Cathedral of Our Lady has a spectacular Gothic tower. Its interior is richly decorated with stained glass and it houses some of Rubens' most famous paintings. Close by is the Steen, a beautiful story-book fortress which dates from the 12th century. The Plantin Moretus Museum is a delightful must. Plantin turned printing into an art during the 16th century, and most of his tools and presses are here on display. The picturesque courtyard and Rubens paintings also make the visit worthwhile. Make sure to visit Rubenshuis, one of the best museums of its kind in the world. Rubens lived and worked for nearly 30 years in this lavish house. His garret is exquisitely furnished and richly stocked with art treasures. Few tourists make it to Cogels-Osylei, an avenue with an uninterrupted procession of art nouveau mansions, each one seeming to outdo the one before it in architectural fantasy. Antwerp is a very cultural and vibrant city. Discover for yourself this effervescent trading, artistic and cultural centre with its typical atmosphere of a port for the ships of the world: cosmopolitan, slightly exotic and at the same time so hospitable.

About the destination: Lively Leuven (Louvain in French) is an ancient capital, a prominent brewing centre and Flanders’ oldest university town. In term time, and even during holidays, some 25,000 students give the city a lively, creative atmosphere. The picturesque core is small enough that you could easily see the sights in a short day trip, but characterful pubs and good-value dining could keep you here for weeks.