Belgium and Luxembourg (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

FLANDERS 101

Hasselt (see p166), thriving capital of the

Province of Limburg, holds a number of sur-

prises, such as an authentic Japanese

Garden, complete with timber

pavilions, a stimulating fashion

museum and the National

Museum of Jenever.

Kasteel van Gasbeek (see
p165) sits in the beautiful
rural region of Pajottenland,
west of Brussels. This great
medieval castle was reno-
vated in sumptuous Flemish-
Renaissance and Neo-Gothic
styles in the late 19th century,
creating a stylish aristocratic
home, full of fascinating
antique furniture, paintings
and other objets d’art.

Leuven (see pp160–61),

the capital of Vlaams

Brabant, is the seat of

Belgium’s oldest uni-

versity. Founded in

1475, it is wittily sym-

bolized in the Font

Sapienza fountain.

BRUSSELS

(see pp52–97)

CENTRAL AND

EASTERN FLANDERS

(see pp140–69)

Grimbergen (see p164) – located just

north of Brussels in the Province of

Vlaams Brabant – has one of the finest

Baroque churches in Belgium. Built

between 1660 and 1725, it belongs to

an abbey of the Premonstratensian

Order, and has given its name to a

respected abbey beer.