Région de Bruxelles-Capitale Travel Forum

Good day!
I will be in Brussels and Auderghem on business next month. I would like to see some sights have some good beer and meet some friends. Is Auderghem a nice area or shouold I plan on staying in a different part. Likewise, how is the Castle de Beersel; is it somwthing to see and is there a cost to tour? I have a big smile, southern US accent, good heart and a hearty laugh and would love to spend time with some locals. Live music- nature walks, red wine and cheese are some of my favorites. Can Brussels accomodate any of these interest?

Ciao!

René

Well, if you're going to Beersel anyway, find a place called De 3 Fonteinen. They make their own beer and serve some great food. The beer is of a type that is a regional speciality there.

For the nature walks, there is a big forest in the outskirts of Brussels: Forêt de Soignes/Zonienwoud.

I live in Woluwe-St-Pierre, a commune neighbour to Auderghem... we share the Woluwe park (designed park). It's OK to have some walk but it's not nature nature. It's lush, yes but deisgned. For me, the best for nature walk is Domaine du Rouge Cloitre and it has the merit (cc your request) of being located in Auderghem. : -0). After your walk, you may have some drinks in the Rouge- Cloitre area itself... there are restaurants too there... I like this area.

That is a nice idea after the work (I used to work in Auderghem too, 5 min on foot from Rouge-Cloitre) but.. february is still winter... I think you will have to see the whole domaine on a sunday. I am not against doing the Rouge-Cloitre on a sunday with you but I will check what about the others.. I will have to check my availability.

Chateau de Beersel. Seems interesting, I just saw on the net the pics http://www.galapiats.be/galapiats_site/beersel.php

I've never been there but seems worth the glance. Oh well, we don't have that many castles that are still surrounded by water over here. Go there, at least, it will be an off beat path experience. Seems to be intersting for military architecture too... I will check more details about tour...

On Castle of Beersel:
-Province of Vlaams Brabant, half distance between Brussels and Hal.
-Access : autoroute E19 Bruxelles-Mons, exit # 14 Beersel-Lot.

Opening hours: 10 -12h and 14-18h.
From Nov. 16 to end of February: only open on week-ends

Closed: on mondays and the whole minth of January.

Adults : 2,5 € and kids lesser than 12 yo: 1,25 €
Groups of 15 persons : 1 € (per person, I guess)
Family cards: 7,5 €

Otherwise: 1,25 € for Beersel' local adults and for their kids: 0,60 €
3,75 € for Beersel families

René,

Auderghem is a quiet surburd of Brussels where there is nothing to do excepted live and sleep. On my own, I live north of this district and I do confirm, you will be happy staying in that part of Brussels.

As others said, you can enjoy nature close to Auderghem going to the vast forest bordering the city: Foret de Soignes. There are a lot of trails for walking and biking. There is also a beautifull park between Woluwe Saint pierre and Auderghem with lakes and trails. I appreciate to spend time in there during the week-end.

If you really want to discover the forest, I highly recommand you to go to the Tram Museum (Av. de Tervuren) and pick on a tram to Tervuren. During 30 minutes, you will cross to forest to the African Museum where you will walk in a park and in the forest.

Do drink beers and wines, Auderghem is a good place but most popular bars are in downtown. Take the subway to the there. Line 2A starts in Auderghem and you can join downtown in less than 30 minutes.

I recommand you a few bars arround historical center. My favorites are: Images Nostre Dame, la Becasse, LE Roi d'Espagne on main square, l'Archiduc in the street face to Stock exchange building, Goupil le Fol (rue de la Violette), le Cercueil (close to main square). For rum lover, La Marie Galante is a nice place to go.

Have fun in Brussels.

Benoit

Nothing to do but live and sleep??? So THAT's what I did for 4 years! No wonder I felt the need to move back to Sweden :-)))

I agree though, Auderghem is a quiet place but the part of it furthest from the city centre is nice and green and has some great restaurants. On my Brussels page I have two of them - a Moroccan "desert tent" experience (when you have a lot of time) in Chausee de Wavre and then Le Briefing where we used to go for lunch from work (where did you work Norali??? - I worked in the huge Beaulieu complex).

We used to go bike riding in the forest and it is very nice. Europe's largest beech forest if I'm not mistaken. Although coming from Sweden, I of course don't call it a forest since it has walking paths! :-)))

VT's Cadzand also has tips on Auderghem!

Oooh Chalotta,

I agree with Charlotta, it's not that a dorm town...
I was thinking of the restaurants too. I was wondering if "la tente du desert" was not on Ixelles. Anyway, it was the second best couscous I experienced in Region de Bruxelles (imho).

Another nice joint for drinks and eating is Le Mellaerts, near the Mellaerts pounds (Bd du souverain)... Nice covered terrasse that looks on the pounds, a mini-golf..

I worked in one of those huge buildings on Av. Herrmann-Debroux.

I know where you worked then. My Moroccan restaurant is not the one in Ixelles but the one called Khaima. Slow service but very cosy "tent" experience and good food.

Ah yes, Mallaerts was our local minigolf :-) Great Sunday outing with the family.

Gosh, sometimes people make me miss Brussels! WOW...:-)))

there are some joints in Domaine du Rouge-Cloitre too...

I have been to La Khaima last week. Environment is still beautiful but service is very bad. I know this restaurant for years and, even if quality is good, service becomes very poor. It is slow with non respect regarding the customers.

Making money is now their only objective whatever the service is.

I do not recommand to go there anymore. La tente du Tente in Ixelles is much better.

OK.. I would definately skip this Khaima then.. I've been to La tente du désert some times years ago... always OK..

Yes, as I said on my page, the service needs to be improved in an otherwise good place. You mean they are even WORSE now than when I left more than a year ago? :-))) We had to take loooong lunches. But their milk desert is fabulous!