Belgium,where should we go?
We are going to Bruges for a few days in the summer and then have plenty of time to explore Belgium, then back through France . Any suggestions for must see areas?
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Brussels and Leuven and both good cities to visit. There is a very nice site at Grimbergen http://www.camping-grimbergen.webs.com/ that I can recommend - nice restaurants in walking distance and pubic transport available to both cities.
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Ghent is a lovely city, home to Jan Van Eyck, The Ghent Altarpiece.
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Having lived and worked in Brussels (albeit a few years ago), you should visit Brussels itself - the Grand Place is something not to miss. Also I would recommend a visit to Waterloo (a little outside Brussels itself but an easy trip) and a tour around the museum there is well worth the effort as it commemorates the famous battle. I agree Antwerp is well worth a visit - as indeed would be Liege.
Most Belgians speak good English so if that is a worry you will have little trouble getting around.
I am sure you will enjoy it.
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Whenever we are thinking of visiting a new country we borrow a guide book to that country from the Library. Guidebooks such as "Lonely Planet" or "Rough Guide" are useful. There are usually others available.
These books give us opportunity to do personal research and decide what areas/cities/attractions sound of interest to us. If we decide to visit the country we then buy at least one guidebook to take with us and also ensure that we have a good scale road atlas or maps. Often we have found some name or feature on a map, done some further reading and then visited the place.
I am wary of making recommendations to other people, especially if I don't know them or their interests. What appeals to me may be of absolutely no interest to them. We once recommended the French town of Carcassonne to our neighbours who were going to be in the region and were a little embarrassed on their return home to learn that they hadn't liked it at all!!
Having said all the above, we have enjoyed visiting the Belgian cities which people have already mentioned!
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I totally agree AJB We done both last year and the last post ceremony is something to see, just amazing and stunning, a must see along with the war graves, so many young lost life's, just so very very sad.
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Don't bother with this site it's like a car park as we found, but it's the only one in town so you have no choice really
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There is a 'new' Aire with 17 Motorhome spaces at Aire Kampeerautoterrein Zillebekevijver.
We stayed there last year when we went to the Passchendaele Remembrance Ceremony.
The Aire, inc EHU, cost €8 in 2017 with a maximum stay of 48 hours.
There are also spaces to park up in gaps on the lane, and also the fisherman's car park at the end of the lane, to the left of the Aire if the Aire is full.
There is a British War Cemetery close to the Aire and any visits to pay your respects would be appreciated.
We also stopped overnight in the car park by the Sports Stadium (junction of Leopold 111-Laan and Zillebeckevoetweg) – the Ceremony didn't finish until around 11pm and we, and a few more motorhomes, stayed there without any problems.
The smell of the adjacent Motorhome cooking bacon woke us up …........
Videos - https://youtu.be/YKevHfIZ0d4 and https://youtu.be/Kn2xoMXkEb4
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I agree that Brussels is well worth a visit. We spent a few days there in a hotel and there was more than enough to do. If you want a treat try this waffle shop opposite the Ibis Hotel just off the Grand Place. They also do reasonably priced meals and a sort of English Breakfast.
David
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If you're into musical instruments, there's a world class collection in the Brussels Museum, quite stupendous.
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Ghent is quite delightful. can't give you any site recommendations though
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Is that the one with a cafe/restaurant on the roof? Lovely view over the City.
David
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Camping Blaarmeersen is only a short bus ride into the centre of Gent.
David
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I expect Ypres will be very busy this year, being the 100 th. anniversary of the end of WW1. I like Ypres, but IMO it's becoming too much of a must do, tick in the box, destination. A good alternative is Camping Ypra in Kemmel which is nearby.
However, my favourite location is the Ardennes region and especially LaRoche en Ardenne. Another good spot is Dinant, birthplace of Alfred Sax the inventor of the Saxophone. The town is full of Saxophone statues and is dominated by a huge citadel overlooking the town. There is a cable car up to it - well worth a tour - as is a boat trip on the river Meuse.
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We also visited Ypres a couple of years ago,We stayed at jungstadion which we quite liked and it was very convenient for Ypres and the Menin gate ceremony.It was very touching and my Indian husband was particularly touched as it is the commonwealth memorial and he read many of the names from India and Pakistan.The other commonwealth countries,South Africa etc. are also remembered there.We did not go the next night but heard that a group of British schoolchildren with their musical instruments attended.After the ceremony they walked down the town centre playing old world war 1 songs.
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We have stopped at Grimbergen a few times en route for Austria and can recommend it highly excellent to see Brussels
Review on here page of our 2016 European tour with photos
http://www.joysofeuropeancaravanning.co.uk/13thtrippage2.htm
DianneT
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Have stopped here a couple of times excellent for Brussels
See here
http
/www.joysofeuropeancaravanning.co.uk/13thtrippage2.htmAny questions please ask.
DianneT.
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Just a couple of thoughts...
1. Jungstadion at Ypres has both a 'aire' and a conventional camp site through a second barrier. The site costs a little more, but IMO, is worth it.
2. Only my families opinion, but Brussels is the last place we would go. Certainly the Grand Place is worth seeing and there are loads of good restaurants, but away from the centre, it's a bit dire. Ghent and especially Brugge are much nicer.
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