DESTINATIONS BELGIAN CITIES SHORT BREAKS


◗ GHENT Usually passed through on the train to Bruges, Ghent flies somewhat under the radar, but manages to be astonishingly pretty without nearly as many tourists to battle through. There’s also a big food scene, especially for vegetarian restaurants. Think of Ghent as Bruges’ cooler cousin, and you’re not too far wrong. It has its own belfry too – a lift goes part of the 91 metres up. Check out the enormous bells and mechanical drum as you climb to reach the top. Other attractions include the


somewhat disjointed Design Museum, which flits between modern gallery spaces full of gorgeous art nouveau glassware, and period rooms. What it excels at is identifying differences in styles – handy for those who don’t know their deco from their rococo. There’s also the Gravensteen, a


proper castle from which you can imagine people in armour pouring boiling oil. Top off a wander round the turrets by looking at the grisly displays of torture implements inside. Stay: The Ghent Marriott Hotel is an architectural feat, spread across numerous old houses, but topped off with a showy glass lobby wall and roof. Doubles start at €120. marriott.com


Ghent flies under the radar, but manages to be astonishingly pretty without nearly as many tourists to battle through


ABOVE: Liège-Guillemins station


BELOW LEFT: Ghent’s belfry and town hall


BELOW RIGHT: Ghent Marriott Hotel


◗ LIEGE The most appealing city in Wallonia, the French-speaking half of Belgium, starts off spectacularly. The waving, white roof of the Liège-Guillemins station is a show-stopper that bears the unmistakable hallmarks of its architect, Santiago Calatrava. From there, the city hugs the Meuse River, occasionally pretty and frequently interesting. One thing that jumps out is the concentration of specialist shops and galleries. It’s the sort of place where every idea has an outlet. That shines through in Liège’s


character – it’s a city with few must- visit attractions that nonetheless feels highly agreeable to hang out in. In terms of what to see, the Sunday


riverside market is full of character, and the nearby Blegny-Mine is a great example of how to do industrial heritage well. Visitors don hard hats and learn about the coal industry as they head deep into the mine. In the city itself, the most worthwhile


attractions are in the old town. The Museum of Walloon Life, inside a former convent, is a good starting point. It looks at the history and heritage of French-speaking Belgium, from the glass industry to the inventor of the saxophone and strange festival costumes. The tiny scale model buildings are the coolest things on display, however. The major museum – or, rather, conglomerate of separate


56 travelweekly.co.uk 23 August 2018


PICTURES: WBT/DENIS ERROYAUX; STAD GENT-DIENST TOERISME/BAS BOGAERTS


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72