Having read over a thousand pages of the Ken Folllet book on medieval church construction, visiting Cathedrals and places of worship around Europe has taken on a whole new meaning. The Duomo in Milan is a masterpiece that took nearly six centuries to construct, the spectacular Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is still work in progress and the Black Abbey in Kilkenny is a medieval gem. Victor Hugo described this 13th century building in central Brussels as a Gothic masterpiece and few could disagree. It is the preferred location for Belgian royal weddings, the coronation of monarchs and their funerals and it probably should figure on the itinerary of any visit to the Belgian capital. One can easily suffer from Cathedral fatigue while on holiday but this hallowed masterpiece is well worth a visit if only to marvel at the skill of the ancient church builders and admire the wonderful stained-glass window in the northern transcript depicting Charles V and Isabelle of Portugal. It could also be a welcome respite after a busy sightseeing schedule and over indulgence in mussels and chips, waterzooi, waffles and the sublime chocolate for which the Belgian capital is renowned. Afterwards continue up the hill to reach the Parc de Bruxelles, the biggest green space in central Brussels, laid out formally with majestic tree-shaded avenues and another haven of tranquillity in the city centre.

This is an absolutely stunning cathedral in the heart of Brussels. If you come in via the train station, this is a very close walk - you can't miss it rising up over the nearby park. There are tons of beautiful stained glass windows and many side chapels and monuments/dedications throughout the building. If you time it right, the sun shining through the windows will leave color splashed all over the stone, which is gorgeous.

The place is must visit when in Brussels. There is a woman statue with stars around her head, so these stars became a symbol of European Union. They offer to visit excavation in a basement for 1 Euro, but there is nothing to see there, so save your money. There is an online multimedia guide, which worth to buy despite it’s badly coded. The guide costs 4 EUR for 30 minutes and 5 EUR for 50 minutes, so you better take a 50 minutes one. But keep in mind, there is no free wifi, so the guide will eat your mobile data.