“O times! You were Brussels!
With silent movies – you sang, Brussels,
And you dreamed and sang loudly!
You were Brussels, my Brussels.
Jacques Brel
Brussels is really unusually distinctive. It has its special “Brussels” spirit everywhere, which has incorporated refined taste and elegance, combined with the business rhythm of the European capital. Brussels captivates with unparalleled architecture, represented by magnificent examples of different styles – from pretentious Gothic to brilliant Art Nouveau. The central square of the city – Grand Place is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful in Europe, and its architectural ensemble is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The museums of Brussels, which store rich collections of world masterpieces of art, put the Belgian capital among the largest cultural centers in Europe. Brussels is famous for its gourmet cuisine – there are about 2,000 restaurants in the city, as well as many cozy cafes and excellent nightclubs.
Geography and location
Brussels is the capital of Belgium, located in the center of the Kingdom of Belgium, on the banks of the river Senne (Senne), and together with other 18 communes, the city of Brussels forms the Brussels-Capital Region. The commune of Brussels consists of three parts: northern, central and southern. In the northern part is the Laeken district with the royal residence. Brussels is divided into Upper and Lower City. The territory of Brussels occupies 32.6 km2, and the population of the city is about 150 thousand people.
Climate
Brussels has a maritime temperate climate. Located 100 km from the city, the North Sea causes a humid, rainy and rather cool climate. The average temperature in summer is +17-20°C, in winter – +2-3°C. The rainiest months are July and August.
History
The name Brussels (Brussel) means “village in the swamp”, as it comes from the words bruoc – “swamp” and sella – “settlement”. The first mention of Brussels as a village of Bruocsella dates back to 996, in 979 Karl Nizhnelotarginsky built a fortress and a church on the Senne River, consecrated by Saint Gudula, the patroness of Belgium, and in the 11th century the first city wall was erected. In 1430, Brussels became the capital of Burgundy, at the behest of the Duke of Burgundy. At this time, the city begins to flourish. In the 16th century, Brussels became part of the Southern Netherlands, at the same time, during the reign of Philip II, an uprising against the Spanish rulers took place. In the 17th century, France tries to dominate Europe and conquers Brussels, but after the War of the Spanish Succession, in 1714, the rule passes to the Austrian Habsburg dynasty. As a result of the Belgian Revolution in 1830, Belgium is separated from the Southern Netherlands and becomes the Kingdom of Belgium with the capital Brussels and the form of government as a constitutional monarchy with the first king, Leopold I. In the 19th-20th centuries, Brussels enters its heyday. After the Second World War, Brussels gained more and more international importance – in 1958 the European Economic Community was located here, the World Exhibition was held, and in 1967 the NATO office moved here from Paris. Today, Brussels is also home to the headquarters of the European Union, as well as the secretariat of the Benelux countries and the Western European Union. In the Belgian capital, the situation with languages is interesting – it is an official bilingual city in which French and Dutch are spoken, while 7% of residents consider Flemish as their native language.
