Brussels. History of the city. The lower city. The upper city

Brussels, Belgium's capital, ranks as the nation's fifth largest city but Brussels and its suburbs, with a population of about 1 million people, make up the country's largest metropolitan area. While both Dutch and French are used for education and public communication in metropolitan Brussels, French is the everyday language of most of the people. The city is called Brussel in Dutch and Bruxelles in French.

History of the city. Historians do not know when Brussels was founded. By the A. D. 900's, the city had become an important stopping point on trade routes linking western Germany and northern France. By the 1200's, Brussels itself was an important center of trade and industry, and famous for its fine tapestries and other textile products.

Beautiful lace has been one of the most famous products of Belgium since the 1500's, when Italy and Belgium were the chief centers of early lacemaking. A plaque at the left marks the residence of the famous French author Victor Hugo, who lived in Brussels during his exile from France.

For centuries thereafter, Brussels was part of empires controlled by foreign rulers, including the Burgundians, Spaniards, Austrians, French, and Dutch. The city became the capital of Belgium when the country gained independence in 1830. German troops occupied Brussels during World War I (1914-1918) and again during World War II (1939-1945), but the city suffered little physical damage in these wars.

Sometimes called the "capital of Europe," Brussels today is a center of international economic and political activity. The European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are based in or near the city. Many of Brussels' residents work for the government or for EU agencies.

The Cite Berlaymont, right, is the headquarters of the European Commission, which administers the European Union (EU). Many other international agencies, including NATO and Benelux, also meet in Brussels.

With its large office buildings, cafes, hotels, shops, and network of wide expressways, Brussels appears to be a very modern city. However, many reminders of its past are found in the city's old section.

The lower city. The oldest section of the city, called the lower city, lies in the center of Brussels. At its heart stands the Grand' Place, the main square of Brussels. This marketplace is bordered by elaborately decorated buildings constructed during the late 1600's to house merchant and craft guilds.

The Grand' Place, above, is at its most colorful on Sunday mornings when the square is transformed into a bird and flower market. The buildings lining the square were constructed in the late 1600's to house merchant guilds.

These buildings were erected after French cannon fire destroyed most of the square in 1695. Only Brussels' town hall, the Hotel de Ville—dating from the 1400's—survived the destruction. Atop the building's graceful spire, a statue of Saint Michael, the city's patron saint, faces the square.

Brussels' best-loved landmark, the Manneken-Pis, can be found on a street near the Grand' Place. Known as the "Oldest Citizen of Brussels," this bronze statue of a small, naked boy symbolizes the city's spirit of cheerful independence.

The upper city. The upper city, which lies east of the lower city, contains many important buildings erected during the 1800's and early 1900's, including the royal palace and the Parliament building, as well as elegant residential neighborhoods. Near the royal palace stands the Palais de lustice, which houses Belgium's highest court. This massive building can be seen from many parts of Brussels.

Brussels, right, lies between French-speaking Wallonia and Dutch speaking Flanders. Its oldest section, the lower city, includes the Grand' Place and town hall. To the east lies the upper city, which includes the royal palace, the Parliament building, and other government buildings. Modern neighborhoods and suburbs surround the upper and lower cities.

The Cathedral of Saint Michael, north of the Palais de Justice, is renowned for its stained-glass windows, dating from the early 1500's. The church, which stands on the site of an earlier chapel, was itself begun in 1226.

Art and education. Many people come to Brussels to see the magnificent art collections in its museums. The Museum of Fine Arts features works by Belgian artists of the 1400's through 1800's, while the Museum of Modern Art houses more recent works. Other cultural attractions include the Museum of Natural History, the Albert I Library, and the Theatre de la Monnaie, which offers performances of operas and ballets.

The Free University of Brussels is actually two institutions. Consistent with the city's official bilingual status, the university has one division for French-speaking students and another for those who speak Dutch.