Getaways and excursions in and around Brussels

Culture Escapes Things to do

Just 45 minutes from Brussels, this neoclassical gem has become one of Belgium’s most prestigious sites—a spectacular castle that conceals a 12th-century abbey within a 28-hectare estate

Between Brussels and Liège, the Château d’Hélécine stands with its neoclassical silhouette at the heart of a 28-hectare site, bearing witness to an extraordinary history. A former abbey founded in the 12t...

Escapes Things to do

Just 1.5 hours from Brussels, this hidden gem nestled among hills and valleys is one of Wallonia’s most beautiful villages—it offers spectacular views of the Molignée region and is home to a monumental 17th-century barn

Nestled in the meandering Molignée River, Sosoye reveals itself as one of the Condroz’s most beautiful gems. This village, where limestone houses stand in elegant rows, seems guarded by the protective sil...

Escapes Things to do

“A true journey through time”: Just 45 minutes from Brussels, this medieval stone colossus captivated Victor Hugo and today hides a secret vineyard—it is home to a spectacular 10,000-hectare estate!

South of Brussels, the majestic Villers Abbey stands as a stone testament that is both grand and romantic. Founded in 1146 by Cistercian monks, this monastic complex has weathered the ages and survived th...

Culture Escapes

“It’s the world’s first art storage facility open to the public!” Behind the scenes at the Boijmans Van Beuningen storage facility: this multifaceted gem of a museum that is redefining the norms of museums in Rotterdam

In Rotterdam (2 hours from Brussels), art no longer hides; it is reflected in the thousand and one mirrors that make up the structure of the Boijmans Van Beuningen storage facility, an egg-shaped architec...

Escapes Food & drink Things to do

“You forget you’re in the city”: Just a few minutes from the center of Brussels, this legendary chalet from 1877 nearly vanished in flames—a historic refuge in the heart of the capital’s green lung

In the heart of the Bois de la Cambre, Chalet Robinson stands as a timeless retreat, where the elegance of wood meets the magic of nature. Faithfully rebuilt after the trials of the past, this iconic esta...

Escapes Things to do

Just 30 minutes from Brussels, this little-known Flemish city is home to the Grand Beguinage, a UNESCO World Heritage Site—a timeless getaway, blending vintage cinema and untamed nature

Former capital of the Burgundian Netherlands under Margaret of Austria, the Flemish city of Mechelen boasts an extraordinary architectural heritage, dominated by the iconic St. Rumbold’s Tower and its 97...

Culture Escapes Things to do

Just 1.5 hours from Brussels, this charming village—voted the most beautiful in Wallonia—has become Europe’s first “Book Capital”—an Ardennes gem that is home to a must-see museum and a 2-kilometer-long book trail!

Nestled in the heart of the Ardennes, the charming village of Redu, voted “Most Beautiful Village in Wallonia” in 2024, stands out as an essential stop in the region. Just 1.5 hours from Brussels, this ge...

Escapes Things to do

Just 20 minutes from the center of Brussels, this enchanting Belle Époque lake hides an invisible border in the middle of its waters—a local gem that offers spectacular water activities and the region’s finest restaurant

Just twenty minutes from the hustle and bustle of Brussels, Lake Genval offers an enchanting retreat where time seems to have stood still in the Belle Époque. A true gem nestled on the edge of the Sonian...

Escapes Things to do

“It feels like the Middle Ages”: Less than two hours from Brussels, this gem on the Semois hides a thousand-year-old castle—a mysterious town with unique panoramas and distinctive local cuisine!

Dominated by the imposing silhouette of its thousand-year-old castle, Bouillon offers an epic journey through time and untamed nature. In this jewel of the Semois Valley, the town’s historical past is sti...

Culture Escapes Things to do

Just 45 minutes from Brussels, this neoclassical gem of the Age of Enlightenment houses Belgium’s most prestigious collection of silverware—it conceals a 22-hectare estate with spectacular gardens that nearly disappeared before being saved by the state

Just a stone’s throw from Brussels, the Château de Seneffe stands as one of the guardians of Belgium’s Enlightenment heritage. A true neoclassical gem built in the 18th century, this architectural treasur...

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