Brussels › Places and landmarks
Chocolate
Chocolat
The praline was invented in Brussels, in the Galeries Saint-Hubert, in 1912.
In 1912 Jean Neuhaus, in his shop in the Galeries Saint-Hubert, filled a chocolate shell with cream and nuts and called it a praline. In 1915 his wife designed the little box, the ballotin, to keep them from getting crushed.
Today the Grand Sablon and the galleries are lined with chocolatiers, from old houses to young makers.
More in Brussels
Grand-PlaceGuild houses and a Gothic town hall round one of the most beautiful squares in Europe.
Town HallThe Gothic town hall with its 96-metre tower, topped by Saint Michael slaying the dragon.
King’s HouseThe neo-Gothic house facing the town hall, home of the city museum and Manneken Pis’ wardrobe.
Manneken PisA bronze boy barely half a metre tall, with a wardrobe of more than a thousand costumes.
Galeries Royales Saint-HubertOne of the first covered shopping arcades in Europe, opened in 1847 under a glass roof.
BourseThe old stock exchange of 1873, on a boulevard that has been free of cars since 2015.
Cathedral of St Michael and St GudulaBrussels’ Gothic cathedral on the slope towards the upper town, where royal weddings are held.
Mont des ArtsThe garden steps between the lower and the upper town, with a view over the city.
SablonThe square of antique dealers and chocolatiers, below the Gothic church of Notre-Dame du Sablon.
FriesThick fries fried twice in beef fat, served in a paper cone with mayonnaise.
Comic-strip wallsTintin, the Smurfs and Lucky Luke painted on the gable walls of the old town.