Bruges has remained almost unchanged, and is why it is such a popular place to visit. I normally begin a sightseeing tour of Bruges at the Grand Place; it’s surrounded by gabled guild houses and the Belfort (Belfry of Bruges). During the sightseeing we will see the Sint Salvator Cathedral, the Town Hall, which is a must view, as it’s been voted Belgium’s most attractive. Another visit that can also be a lunch stop is the Brewery, and for chocolate lovers, purchases can be made at one of the many chocolate shops. Some of the group’s like to relax on a 30 minute boat tour, to view the sights from the water.

Brussels is Belgium’s Capitol City, it has endless sights and each time I go I try to discover something “new”. I would say the most photographed attraction must be the “Manneken Pis”, a bronze statue of a little boy, well, you know!! He gets his clothes changed each day. The next most photographed, would be the Atonium, it really is breathtaking!, other sights I take my groups to see are the Japanese Gardens, Royal Palace, Grand Place & Stock Exchange, and if you enjoy sea food then there is a street very close to the Grand Place to tempt you with their delights.

The tours to Leuven are known as the chocolate and champagne tours.
We stay at the Holiday Inn Garden Court, where each morning, there is a buffet breakfast with Champagne.
After our leisurely breakfast, we take a short drive to see chocolate being made, the best bit, I’m told by every tour group, is of course where you get to taste it.
The afternoon is spent in Leuven, with it’s many attractions. It’s a University City, and the Universite Catholique de Leuvain, was founded in 1425, since 1968, it’s been divided into the French speaking U.C.L. and the Flemish speaking Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.
The Town Hall (Stadhuis), built in the mid 15c, always looks so white and clean, you can visit the interior, whilst cafes and restaurants surround the outside of it. St Peters, built again in the 15c, is worth a visit, even if just to see the three-arched choir screen from 1499.
In the late afternoon, we again meet up in the hotel reception, and take a short walk to a small brewery; here the group get a guided tour, seeing how the different beers are produced, before sampling the finished article. You get 3 beers each, with them arriving on a little rack.