VISIT TO EUROPE - BELGIUM - BRUSSELS - MINI EUROPE - III

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) - Contd


          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.

Germany

Holstentor, Lubeck - The imposing and very decorative Holstentor was built 

at Lubeck, an important Hanseatic Town in Germany.

Brandenburger, Berlin - Designed by CG Langhaus, 06 Aug 1791 saw its 

Inauguration at the west end of thefine Boulevard "Unter den Linden". 

It was the stage of the 1918 Revolution and the Nazi marches

Burgtor, Lubeck - is an excellent example of a Medieval Fortification 

with a Trefoil Ogival Arch. It was built in the 15th century

Spire Cathedral - More so than any other building, the Cathedral at Spire 

recalls the era of the German emperors. For three centuries, it was the principal 

burial church of the Salian and Hohenstaufian emperors

A side view of the Beautiful Spire Cathedral

Millennium Tower, Madgeburg - The 60 m high Tower is the highest 

laminated wood Tower in the World. It was built by the Swiss sculptor 

Johannes Staub as a focal point for the Horticultural Exhibition of 1999. 

It is situated in the Elbauenpark, Madgeburg

House of Beethoven, Bonn - Along the Bonngasse stands the Pink Painted Beethoven 

House, where the famous composer was born on 16 Dec 1770, into a family originally 

from Malines (Belgium).At 16 years, the young Beethoven already enjoyed much fame 

as a Musician in the service of the court chapel of the Elector

Eliz Castle - Strategically placed in the narrow valley of the Eliz, has 

stood up well to the test of time. This castle is home to several heirs, 

each family in a different tower

The Wallfahrtskirche , Weis - or the Pilgrimage Church with its priesterhaus 

priory, is beautifully situated on a gently sloping hill. 

Luxembourg

Pont Adolphe - Built at the beginning of 20th century according to a design 

by the French Engineer P Sejourne, is named after the then Grand Duke. 

It was the first Bridge made of natural stone to be built with such a large 

span ( 84 m) and is an excellent example of technical skill

Poland

Artus Court, Gdansk - This 15th century building was the seat of Merchant 

Brotherhood and Guilds. Its facade features statues of Kings and mythical figures.

Three Crosses - The Monument to the Fallen Shipyard workers was 

erected in 1980, in honour to the Gdansk Sipyard workers

The Porta Nigra, Trier - It undoubtedly is the largest Monument from Roman Times, 

which has survived in this city. The Gateway was built around 180 AD and owes its 

name to the dark patina of the limestone blocks.It is evidence of the domination of the 

Roman Empire, which at one time covered virtually all of Europe

Czech Republic

Old Town Hall, Prague - Known for its Astronomical Clock, which indicates

 local time, Sumerian time (Divided into 12 parts between sunrise and Sunset), 

Italian Hours (from 0 to 23), the Astronomical position of the Earth & Planets 

and the Calender. The Clock was built in 1410, the calender added in 1490.

Slovakia

The Blue Church, Bratislava - Designed in the Art Nouveau Style, was built 

in 1913 by the architect Edmund Lechner. Its blue colour, found in the mosaics 

and majolicas among others, givesit a very particular character

Another view of the Blue Church

Romania

Mogosoaia Palace - This magnificient Byzantine Palace dating from 

the Walachian renaissance, was built by the Prince of Walachia, 

Constantin Brancoveanu, at the end of the 17th century 

Bulgaria

Monastery of Rila - Was built on the site of the home of the hermit Jean de 

Rila (Ivan Rilski 870 - 946). His spiritual influence was considerable. 

The monastery thus contributed to the Nation's Freedom

Croatia

Church of St Mark, Zagreb - Was built in the 13th Century in the 

Romanisque Style and was then redesigned in the Gothic style.

Slovenia

Franciscan Church and Hauptman House - The square in Ljubljana is 

home to the Franciscan Church and Hauptman House

Austria

The Abbey, Melk, Austria - The city of Melk, the first capital of Austria 

under the Bebenberg Dynasty, is known chiefly for its magnificent 18th 

century Abbey. It is perched on a rocky crag overlooking the Danube, 

a location which makes it ev en more majestic

Greece

The Acropolis, Athens - Situated on the highest point in Athens, the Acropolis 

has dominated the area for centuries now. It was built in the 5th century BC

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