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Activities opera concerts calendar of big events beer sporting Cities to visit: - Brussels - Brugges - Gent - Namur - Antwerp our suggestion is to get a guide book too Museums Belgium has wonderful museums, from art to architecture to fashion. Please click on the link below to find a list of museums in a variety of Belgian cities. http://www.visitbelgium.com/artculture.htm Note: One of our favorite museums is the Horta Museum- Brussels has a few wonderful examples of Art Nouveau architecture, some by the amazing Belgian architect Victor Horta. This Museum is the house he designed for himself and his family. Another wonderful example of Art Nouveau Architecture is the Museum of Musical Instruments in Brussels. The little café at the top offers a wonderful view of the city. Click here for a list of more Art Nouveau locations: http://www.visitbelgium.com/artnouveau.htm Opera Opera is relatively cheap in Belgium and have some of the best and most innovative shows in Europe, so if you're a fan, we strongly recommend you go to one of the multiple shows they have. Here are, among other places, great venues. http://www.visitbelgium.com/artculture.htm#opera In Brussels , The Opera de la Monnaie has some beautiful shows in a gorgeous setting. The schedule is available at this link: http://www.lamonnaie.be/demunt-1.0/index.jsp?language=EN Around the date of the wedding, La Monnaie will have the following opera: "Phaedra - Hans Werner Henze: World premiere of the new opera by German composer Hans Werner Henze. The work, which offers a contemporary view of the mythical story of Phaedra, is dedicated to mezzo soprano Magdalena Kozena. This project marks Peter Mussbach's return to La Monnaie, in a collaborative work with light artist Olafur Eliasson. 15, 16, 18, 19 & 20 September 2007" In Liege which is closer to the site of the wedding, also has a wonderful and very innovative Opera House. http://www.operaliege.be/accueil/ From the 21st to the 30th, they will show what looks like an amazing set of Nabucco. "As one of the biggest operatic successes, Nabucco, through the power and nobility of its melodies and choruses, continues to thrill audiences worldwide. For the opening of the 2007-2008 season, the ORW has brought together an exceptional line-up. Maestro Paolo Arrivabeni is a frequent guest of the Pesaro Rossini Opera Festival, the Martina Franca Festival and other prestigious stages: Vienna, Berlin, Venice... The director Yoshi Oida learned how to direct actors with the highly influential artist Peter Brook. He has also worked under the direction of Greenaway. Mark Rucker, who trained on the American stages of Boston and Chicago and also at the Metropolitan Opera, and the baritone Carlos Almaguer, who attracted considerable attention in La Forza del destino, will play the title role in turn. Susan Neves dazzles as Abigaille due to the quality of her tone, the beauty of her high notes and her fiery temperament. Sharing the role with her, it will be a delight to see the outstanding soprano Alessandra Rezza. To complete this line-up, there are two impressive basses, Paata Burchuladze and Riccardo Zanellato." Concerts A good place to find a list of larger concerts (and to purchase tickets) is at the big music and Book store FNAC. www.fnac.be The Botanique is a former Botanical Garden transformed into a variety of small and not so small rooms. It's a great venue for concerts. Schedule can be found here: http://www.botanique.be You can purchase tickets at this website for shows at the Botanique and the Cirque Royal (a cool circular venue for shows) Calendar of Big Events in Belgium for the Month of September All month- Festival of Wallonia: Prestigious international orchestras and soloists perform in Castles, abbeys and churches in the French speaking part of Belgium. More info is at Fetes de Wallonie All month in Brussels: Leonardo Da Vinci: the European Genius: IN the magnificent setting of the Basilica of Koekelberg, from August 18, 2007 to March 15th 2008. The exhibition will show original documents, scale models, notebooks as well as several of Leonardo's inventions. The exhibition celebrates the 50th anniversary of the signature of the Treaty of Rome and is co-produced by "Europa 50" and the European Commission. From Sept 1st to the 16th, the Royal Palace is open to the public every day except Monday from 10 am to 5pm... Entrance is free- so expect lines From Sept 7th to 16th, Vitrine event takes place in Antwerp. For 10 days, Belgian and international fashion designers, fashion brands, fashion students at the Fashion Department of the Flanders Fashion Institute and other fashion-related movers and shakers present their workd in shop windows all over the city Sept 8 and 9: Monuments all over Wallonia open their usually closed doors to the public. Castles, museums and private homes open their dooes to give visitors the opportunity to discover the cultural heritage of French speaking Wallonia. Sept 9. The Grand Historical Procession takes place in Tournai. This is a historical parade in honor of the Virgin Mary who saved the city from the plague. Sept 16th. The Grand Prix of Belgium (Car racing) takes place in Spa- Francorchamps. The event of the year, the Formula 1 Race is held in Spa-Francorchamps. For eight centuries the town of Spa, which has subsequently given its name to all similar health resorts in the English-speaking world, has been renowned for its healing waters. After the excitement of the race indulge yourselves and take the waters at The Thermes de Spa (www.thermesdespa.com). Spa is a good place to stay for visitors wishing to explore the eastern French speaking Ardennes, which are the hills of Belgium. Sept 16th and 17th: Open Monument Days take place in Brussels. Visit historic houses in the capital of Belgium normally closed to the public. Sept 14th to 30th: The beautiful Museum of Fine Arts in Brussels hosts a major exhibit of the works of Flemish Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens (16th-17th century) Sept 31st - Belgian Beer Week-end: The Belgian Brewers' association and the 'Chevalerie du Fourquet des Brasseurs', in collaboration with the City of Brussels organizes the annual Belgian Beer Weekend on the Grand'Place. Don't miss the 2007 edition to be held August 31st through September 2, 2007. Many small, medium-sized and large Belgian breweries will present their best selections of beers. Beer aficionados should also check out our Beer Lovers guide. On Belgian Beer Great website to learn more on Belgian Beers: http://belgianstyle.com/mmguide/ http://www.visitbelgium.com/beer.htm Beauty lies in the hands of the beer holder." - Anonymous Nowhere is this more true than in Belgium with over 450 different varieties of beer, many with personalized beer glasses in which that beer, and only that beer, may be served. The shape of each glass is made to enhance the flavor of the beer it is designed for. This strict beer seperatism may seem like behavior usually reserved for wine snobbery, but Belgians do take their beer seriously - and with good reason. Belgium has enjoyed an unparalleled reputation for its specialty beers since the Middle Ages. Connoisseurs favor Belgian beers for their variety, real flavor and character. There are almost as many beer styles as there are breweries in the small kingdom of Belgium. The choices are endless when you consider raspberry beer, white beer, chocolate beer, geuze beer, cherry beer, brown beer Trappist beer and of course the beer that Belgium is most famous for - the lambic beer. Lambic beer is made with an ancient style of brewing, depending on spontaneous fermentation to produce a bone-dry, profoundly tart, and naturally effervescent drink that improves with years in the bottle - much like wine. By European Union regulation, it can be produced only in a small area in Belgium. A quick course on Beer: Blanche or White Beers: Sometimes called a wheat beer - it is light, cloudy, and with a hint of citrus. Example: Hoegaarden. Lambic: A non-malted wheat beer naturally fermented by wild, airborne yeasts. A draft beer specific to the Brussels area. Gueuze: A blend of two or more Lambic beers to create a secondary fermentation and a Champagne-like sparkle. Faro: Lambic light, if you will. A sweetened variety with some of the flavor but less intensity of other Lambics. Kriek: A Lambic beer in which further fermentation is brought about with the addition of cherries or raspberries - refreshing in summer! Brown Beers: These beers interplay caramel-like malty sweetness and a sourness gained from several months of maturation. Example: Goudenband Red Beers: Produced from red barley, these beers are aged in oak. Fruity, sweet & sour, very thirst-quenching! Example: Rodenbach Golden Beers : These beers are similar to Pilsner lagers using very pale malts and hops, while retaining ale yeasts. Example: Duvel. - Trappist Beers: Among the dozen or so surviving abbey breweries in Europe, six are Trappist and located in Belgium, all established in their present form by Trappists who left France after the turbulence of the Napoleonic period. Rich dark ales produced solely by monks according to centuries-old methods in the six following monasteries; Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, Westmalle, Westvleteren and Achel. To learn more about Trappist beers, read: Style of Trappist beers. - Abbey Beers: Strong ales in a similar vein to some of the famous Trappist brews, but not made in monasteries. Some have names indicating a business relationship between an abbey and a commercial brewery. Several of these monasteries did brew in the past. There are several other religious institutions that license breweries, and other beers that are simply named after an abbey ruin or local saint. Some names to remember when sampling abbey beers are: Leffe, Grimbergen, Duvel, Affligem, Karmeliet, Kwak, and Corsendonk. For Beer tours: Brussels International Travel Service (BITS) : Organized beer and gourmet tours for individuals or groups. http://www.brussels-international.be/ Beer events Brussels Beer Week-end- From August 31st to September 2nd Brussels' Grand Place hosts a multitude of stands offering the opportunity to discover some of our best Belgian beers. Many small, medium-sized and large Belgian breweries will present to you their best selections of beers. Entrance is free and beer prices are very reasonable! Many other events such as jazz bands, brass bands, activities for children will entertain you while tasting one or two beer. Hop Festival in Val de Sambre: Great hops festivity from September 7 - 9, 2007 with amazing entertainments throughout the weekend including music, guided tours of the brewery, hot-air balloon rides, and craft exhibitions Bruxellensis Festival: The Bruxellensis festival in Saint-Gilles presents from September 8 - 9, 2007 authentic beers and various Belgian breweries which buck the predominant trend and do not brew beers that are far too sweet and fruity. Make way for diversity of flavor and authenticity! Arch'en Biers: This festival takes place from September 14 - 16, 2007 and aims to make people discover lesser-known beers in Walloon Brabant. Every year, the organizers endeavor to present new products to visitors. Numerous samplings throughout the weekend. Big September Beer Festival: From September 22 - 23, 2007 in Denee, visitors to this beer festival can participate in different workshops on how to pour a beer, tasting sessions, and more. Entertainment includes comedians, clowns, ancient games and hot air balloon flights Brassigaume- The International Festival of Small Breweries: From September 29 - 30, 2007 in Rulles you can visit different stands and meet 22 Master-Brewers and taste their products consisting of more than 80 different beers. On the agenda: music, reading with beer historian Mr. Philippe Voluer, and local cuisine made from Belgian beer. Belgian Beer Festival/ Beer Collector's and Exchange Market: This beer event takes place September 30, 2007 in the town of Lustin. Beer glasses, bottles, labels, coasters, old ads, clocks, mirrors, pints, jugs and other collector's items. You can try or buy more than 850 kinds of beer. Meals cooked with beer. Sporting -Soccer(Football) Standard Liege (Root for an American) Anderlecht Click here to get Home |