The History Of Brussels Art And History Museum In One Minute

Among the biggest museums in Europe, the Art and History Museum (formerly the Cinquantenaire Museum) in Brussels holds an incredibly absorbing appeal. Forget about losing just a day – a true history buff can spend a week marvelling at the museum’s thousands of artefacts, gathered over hundreds of years from civilisations all across the globe, and decorative arts.

Part of a 30ha (74-acre) domain in honour of Belgium’s 50th year of independence, the museum faces the stretched-out lawns of the regal Cinquantenaire Park, designed at the behest of King Leopold II. Next to it stands the grand triumphal arc, and next to that, two other museums – AutoWorld and the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History – reflect the sun with their gorgeous glass facades.

As it’s one of the city’s largest museums, walking around the Art and History Museum can feel a bit like touring the world. With every step and every new gallery, another continent’s treasures are revealed. A Chimú statuette, which is more than 800 years old and inspired Hergé to write the Tintin album The Broken Ear, made its way over from Peru. A massive statue from Easter Island lends an air of mystery, while bright wall tiles from Iranian ruler Shah Abbas the Great give the place some colour.

In addition to viewing the riches of multiple cultures, you can also engage in some time travel. The museum’s permanent collection boasts millennia-old artefacts that give us clues to the beliefs of civilisations that came before us. Greek pottery from around 500 BCE tells the tales of mythical heroes such as Hercules, while rare sarcophagi teach us about the expectations the Egyptians had for life after death. A nearly 3,000-year-old relief from the ancient city of Nimrud shows a winged genie ready to take flight. All of these examples, and more, can be found hiding in the galleries of Brussels’ world-class Art and History Museum. Don’t take our word for it: explore it yourself.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.