Brussels Attractions
Description
Venue: Atomium When: Daily
The Atomium, a giant model of the atomic lattice of iron crystals (magnified 165 million times), was built for the 1958 World Fair by engineer André Waterkeyn in celebration of scientific progress, and is a distinctive and quirky landmark in Brussels.
It was meant to be a temporary affair, but the Bruxellois grew too fond of this shiny, metal, 102-metre high structure, consisting of nine orbs linked by tubes, to pull it down. Besides which, it would be no mean feat to dismantle this 2400-tonne edifice! Instead, it is still standing proud.
Kids will love approaching the Atomium, then going up to the highest sphere in one of the fastest lifts in Europe, which offers a panoramic view of the entire region (weather willing). It's the kind of thing you will only want to do once in a lifetime, but it has to be done.
The Atomium also has a permanent exhibition and buffet restaurant. When you've exhausted the possibilities of this monument to science, it's worth nipping over to nearby Mini-Europe, where the whole of Europe is reduced to toy-town proportions.
The Atomium, a giant model of the atomic lattice of iron crystals (magnified 165 million times), was built for the 1958 World Fair by engineer André Waterkeyn in celebration of scientific progress, and is a distinctive and quirky landmark in Brussels.
It was meant to be a temporary affair, but the Bruxellois grew too fond of this shiny, metal, 102-metre high structure, consisting of nine orbs linked by tubes, to pull it down. Besides which, it would be no mean feat to dismantle this 2400-tonne edifice! Instead, it is still standing proud.
Kids will love approaching the Atomium, then going up to the highest sphere in one of the fastest lifts in Europe, which offers a panoramic view of the entire region (weather willing). It's the kind of thing you will only want to do once in a lifetime, but it has to be done.
The Atomium also has a permanent exhibition and buffet restaurant. When you've exhausted the possibilities of this monument to science, it's worth nipping over to nearby Mini-Europe, where the whole of Europe is reduced to toy-town proportions.
Brussels Information
Belgian Tourist Office
Address: Rue du Marché-aux-Herbes 63, 1000 Brussels, Belgium, (UK Address: 217 Marsh Wall, London, E14 9FJ)
Email: info@belgiumtheplaceto.be
Phone: +32 (0) 2 504 0390 (for UK +44 (0) 20 7531 0390)
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Looking for things to do around Brussels? Here are some of the events and attractions happening in the area.
| Mini-Europe |
24 Mar 2008 - 4 Jan 2009 (annual) Mini-Europe |
| Sablon Nights |
27 - 29 Nov 2008 (annual) Place du Grand Sablon |
| Elbow |
11 Nov 2008 Ancienne Belgique, Brussels |
| Flanders Festival |
23 Aug - 29 Oct 2008 (annual) Flanders |
| Fashion Designers Trail |
24 - 26 Oct 2008 (biennial) Brussels |
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