VISIT TO EUROPE - BELGIUM - BRUSSELS - MINI EUROPE - I

CHAPPIDI ABHIRATH REDDY
C/O COL GKS REDDY

Secunderabad - 500015

Visit Brussels - 22 Sep 2013

On Arrival at Brusseles International Zuid Railway Station

Brussels

          Brussels (French: Bruxelles, [bʁysɛl] ( listen); Dutch: Brussel, [ˈbrʏsəɫ] ( listen)), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (French: Région de Bruxelles-Capitale, Dutch: Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest), is the capital of Belgium and de facto the capital of the European Union (EU). It is also the largest urban area in Belgium, comprising 19 municipalities, including the municipality of the City of Brussels, which is the de jurecapital of Belgium, in addition to the seat of the French Community of Belgium and of the Flemish Community. 

          Brussels has grown from a 10th-century fortress town founded by a descendant of Charlemagne to a sizeable city.[10] The city has a population of 1.2 million and a metropolitan area with a population of over 1.8 million, both of them the largest in Belgium. 

          Since the end of theSecond World War, Brussels has been a principal centre for international politics. Hosting principal EU institutions and the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the city has become the polyglot home of numerous international organisations, politicians, diplomats and civil servants. 

          Historically Dutch-speaking, Brussels has seen a major shift to French since Belgian independence in 1830. Today, although the majority language is French, the city is officially bilingual. All road signs, street names, and many advertisements and services are shown in both languages. Linguistic tensions remain and the language laws regarding some municipalities surrounding Brussels are an issue of considerable controversy in Belgium.

Visit Mini Europe (Brussels)

          Mini-Europe is a miniature park located in Bruparck at the foot of the Atomium in Brussels, Belgium. Mini-Europe has reproductions of monuments in the European Union on show, at a scale of 1:25. Roughly 80 cities and 350 buildings are represented. The models cost as much as €350,000 to make (the Brussels Grand-Place).

          The park contains live action models (train, mills, eruption of Mount Vesuvius, Airbus, cable cars, etc.). A guide gives the details on all the monuments. At the end of the visit, the “Spirit of Europe” exhibition gives an interactive overview of the European Union in the form of multimedia games.

       The park is built on an area of 24,000 m². The initial investment was of €10 million in 1989, on its inauguration by Prince Philip of Belgium.

           We visited Mini Europe on 22 Sep 2013, after visiting the Atonium Building at Brussels.

Main Entrance to the Mini Europe Complex

Inner Entry to the Mini Europe Park

Denmark

 

Denmark, the first country at the Entry of Mini Europe Park

Trelleborg, one of the best Known Reconstructed Viking Camps in Denmark. A Circular Fortress 

with 31 Wooden Long Houses surrounded by a system of Ditches and Ramparts. 

The Beurs - Copenhagen Stock Exchange, a beautiful 17th Century Renaissance Building 

was constructed to give new impetus to Danish Economic Life

The Nyhavn - Copenhagen New Harbour. Nyhavn was an important Commercial 

Port in 17th and 18th Century. Now it is mainly a Tourist Centre

Sweden

The Stockholm Town Hall. Construction started in 1911 and Inaugurated in 1923. The Citizens of 

Stockholm were given the Honour of sponsoring the Roof of the Hall

Finland

Olavinlinna Castle, Finland. The Magnificent Castle was built in 1475. Its importance 

lies in its Strategic position on the canal linking many Lakes. It used to form part 

of the Frontier defences against Russia

Estonia

Tallinn - "City of the Danes" Has had thin name since it was conquered by the Danish King Valdemar II in 1219. The large Seaport rebuilt in 1529, and the Cannon Tower, called the Fat Margareta are part of  a superb and well preserved section of the 4 km long Ancient Enclosing wall

Latvia

Riga - The Monument of Freedom, represents Latvia as a young Nation. Created by Karlis Zale in 1931 - 1935, a little after the First Independence of 1918. This Monument had an even more Symbolic value during the Soviet Occupation

Lithuania

The University of Velnius was founded by the Jesuits in 1579. It is in the centre of the old Town, 

close to the Bishops Palace

Another  view of the University

The Netherlands

The Town Hall of Maastricht. It was in Maastricht, the oldest and the most Southerly Town 

of Netherlands, that was signed the Treaty of Maastricht, the Agreement, so Fundamental to 

the Future of the European Union

Kloveniersdoelen at Middelburg, Netherlands. Middleburg was once a cosmopolitan Town, 

where you will find many stately buildings as this one

Another View of Middelburg

Orvelte - For about 20 Years, Orvelte has been a Museum Village, 

which Transports visitors to a Rural Past

The Windmills of Kinderduk, Netherlands were built around 1740. Their main purpose was not 

milling of grain, but rather for Drainage. Now their function has been taken over by Electric Pumps

Belgium

The Fairy Tale Veves Castle at Celles, Strategically perched on Top of a Rock in the Valley of 

the Ry (A tributary of Lesse), is an elegant Fortress with Several Towers. The castle is still 

inhabited by the same Family since 1466 and gives a good idea of Life in the Middle Ages

The early Gothic Our Lady Church or Collegiate of Dinant is famed for its impressive 

site against a solid Rock wall

The Grand Square - Brussels, is one of the most Beautiful Squares in Europe.

The Monumental Town Hall of Antwerp, designed by Cornelius Floris de Vriendt

The Town Hall of Leuven was built in the middle of 15th Century to a 

design by Matheus de Layens

The Graslei, which used to be known as the most beautiful street in Europe was a wheat 

Trading Centre of Ghent, a Medieval Town of Belgium

The Belfry at the Tanners Square in Bruges, Belgium

Alden Biesen - This Commandery belonged to the Teotonic Order, an Order of Knights, 

sworn to defend the Christian Faith and Minister to the Poor.

Note:- The information about the places visited has been Extracted from Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia