Medieval and Modern Brussels: A Tour through the Heart of Europe

(131 reviews)

Brussels audio tour: Medieval and Modern Brussels: A Tour through the Heart of Europe

This is a 2.8mi walking tour

It takes an average of 120 mins to complete.

Brussels

Belgium

$9.99

Access all 72 locations offline with the VoiceMap app

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About the Tour

At the heart of Europe lies Brussels, an international city draped in grandeur, history, and intrigue, where the leaders of the Continent meet. This walking tour traces the city‘s medieval foundations and follows its journey from a wealthy city in the Middle Ages to the largest diplomatic community in the world.

Our tour starts at the imposing Royal Palace of Brussels, where you‘ll learn about the Belgian Royal Family and their lineage. You‘ll make your way through the city’s historical centre towards its famous clock, Le Carillon du Mont des Arts, and pass below its thunderous bells. After passing the Black Tower, an ancient structure surrounded by modern buildings, you’ll reach Grand Place, a UNESCO-listed town square surrounded by palaces and ornate guild houses. You‘ll pass through the trendy Sablon neighborhood, lined with cafés and art galleries, en route to our final stop, the Palais du Justice, where you‘ll be able to look back on your journey through medieval Brussels’ long history.

Along the way, you‘ll have a chance to:

Learn about the history of the Palace of Coudenberg, which once hosted the most powerful rulers in Europe
Hear about music through the ages at the Musical Instruments Museum
Wander through cobblestone alleys in the city‘s historic centre and discover where an opera performance triggered a revolution
Admire the Royal Palace of Brussels, the former residence of Belgium‘s royal family
Explore traces of the medieval city walls and find the bizarre location of Brussels' former harbor
Giggle at the trickling Mannekin Pis statue, one of Brussels‘ most iconic landmarks and a testament to Belgians‘ quirky sense of humor
Ascend the steps of the imposing Palais du Justice, the city‘s best viewing point

This 120-minute tour not only deepens your appreciation for Brussels‘ cultural heritage but also unveils its hidden tales, quirks, and treasures. Join us on this audio walk, and let Brussels reveal its enchanting blend of past and present, as we discover its secrets along the way.

Tour Producer

Isaac

2 tours

Isaac lives and works in Wellington, New Zealand (having previously lived in Brussels for a number of years). When he's not enjoying a coffee in one of Wellington's many cafes, Isaac is often hiking and exploring around New Zealand. Having used VoiceMap to experience other cities, Isaac is excited to bring New Zealand's cities to life, and introduce you to our unique character and history.

Preview Location

Location 50

Grand Place

Welcome to the Grand Place, the beating heart of Brussels!

We’re going to spend a little bit of time here so feel free to wander around and look at the buildings. When I describe things, I’ll assume you’re roughly in the middle of the square.

The history of the Grand P... Welcome to the Grand Place, the beating heart of Brussels!

We’re going to spend a little bit of time here so feel free to wander around and look at the buildings. When I describe things, I’ll assume you’re roughly in the middle of the square.

The history of the Grand Place is a long and fascinating one. Originally built as a medieval market square in the 11th century, it has played host to a variety of events throughout its history, including public executions, festivals, and even jousting tournaments! Over time, the square has been transformed into the beautiful space we see today, featuring stunning Gothic and Baroque architecture adorned with bright gold.

Much of the square was actually destroyed when France bombarded the city in the late 1600s. The bombardment destroyed about a third of the city, including most of the Grand Place. The Town Hall – the largest building in front of you - was the only major building in the square to survive. The other buildings you can see were all rebuilt in the years following the bombardment, which is why many of the buildings have dates such as 1696 and 1697.

Brussels started thriving as a commercial centre from 1100 on, and to accommodate the teeming markets and trader’s houses, the square was paved in the twelfth century over marshy ground. By the 1200s, tradesmen’s organizations like the drapers guild, established in 1282, were built here at the Grand Place. Brussels’ humming markets attracted many more trade and merchants’ guilds. Neighboring streets were named after the food sold there; there’s still a Butter Street and Butcher’s Street close by.

Let’s start with the Town Hall, which you can spot because it dominates the square with its impressive white spire and ornate facade. This building has been the centre of Brussels political and administrative life for more than 600 years, and it is still the Town Hall today, despite being damaged and repaired a few times over the years. You can sometimes walk through the entrance into a courtyard. To see some of the grand rooms and galleries inside, you’ll need to book a guided tour – it is well worth it to tour the rooms and see the art works inside.

Opposite the Town Hall we have the Maison du Roi, or King's House, which now serves as the Museum of the City of Brussels. This is opposite the Town Hall. Originally built in the early 1400s, the building was used as a bread market for many years. However, after the Duke of Brabant, Philip the Good, took over Brussels in the mid 1400s, he decided to convert the building into a residence for the city's rulers. You can pay to enter the Maison du Roi, or it is free if you already have the Brussels Card.

Over the years, the King's House has been used for a variety of purposes, including as a meeting place for the city's guilds, as a city hall, and even as a prison.

Lastly, we have the Guildhalls, which line the square and date back to the 1600s. These buildings were once the homes of various trade guilds, and today they house a variety of restaurants and shops. You can still see the guild emblems and crests on the facades of the buildings, and they serve as a reminder of the important role that trade and commerce have played in the history of Brussels.

Let’s see which ones we can spot, shall we? Look for a building whose roof looks a bit like the back of a ship. If you’re looking at the Town Hall - remember, that's the one with the really high central tower - turn slightly to the right, and you’ll find this one in the corner. This is the Boatmen’s Guildhouse, and the roof is deliberately shaped like the back of a galleon.

Let’s try another one. On the left of the Town Hall, there is a building with a large golden statue of a figure on a horse. Beneath that, you might be able to see some stylised plants. This is the Brewer’s Guild, and the designs are intended to symbolise hops and wheat.

I encourage you to explore this square a little more, if you have the time. There is so much detail to these beautiful buildings, and there are some really great cafes where you can sit and watch the square.

To leave the Grand Place, look for the tallest tower in the square at the Town Hall, now look at the left-hand side of that building, and you’ll see a clock. Head down the alleyway next to that clock. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Royal Palace of Brussels
Place Royale
The Monument to General Thys
Place Royale Bruxelles - Statue de Godefroy de Bouillon
Musical Instruments Museum
Mount of the Arts
Carillon of the Mount of the Arts
Mary Magdalene Chapel
Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert
Jeanneke Pis
Royal Puppet Theater Toone
La Monnaie De Munt
Place De Brouckère
Black Tower
Place Sainte-Catherine
Church of Saint Catherine
Ancien Clocher Sainte Catherine
Brussels Stock Exchange
Grand Place
Great Market
Brussels City Museum
Brussels Town Hall
Tintin Comic Mural
Manneken Pis
GardeRobe MannekenPis
Tour Anneessens
Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon
Poelaert Place Ferris Wheel
Palace of Justice

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Rue Brederode 16, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
Total distance

4km
Final location
Pl. Poelaert 1, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium
Distance back to start location

884.5m

Directions to Starting Point

The tour begins directly outside the Royal Palace, on Place des Palais and next to Park Royale. There are two nearby metro stations - Arts-Loi and Park - less than a five-minute walk away from the starting point.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

Belgium is famous for its fries and waffles, and you'll find many places to sample these during the tour. If you're looking for chocolate, we'll pass some of the best chocolatiers when we visit the St Hubert Galleries.

If you want to learn more about Brussels and Belgium, you can visit one of its many museums. I recommend the Coudenberg Palace, Museum of Musical Instruments, and the Brussels City Museum (King's House). We'll pass each of these on the tour.

Best time of day

This tour can be done at any time of the day, all-year-round. The tour can also be done at night; the route is well lit and the monuments and squares look spectacular at night as well as during the day.

The wonderful Brussels Christmas Markets will be open from Friday 29 November 2024 until Sunday 5 January 2025. You can still complete the tour, and you'll pass through the best parts of the markets on the way. The markets get busy between 6pm and 10pm, so allow more time if you plan to complete the tour then.

Precautions

In the evenings and the weekends, the streets in the historic centre can get busy. Although Brussels is a very safe city, you may want to keep an eye on your belongings when the crowds get busy.

You might want to bring a bottle of water, but there are plenty of stores along the way to buy food and drink.

Roadworks notice. There are significant roadworks underway near the start of the tour, at the Royal Plaza. While these works are underway, you may not be able to follow the exact route for approximately 30m. However, the directions will still guide you in the right direction and you can always look at the map on the app to see where to go.

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App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”

Google Play Store

Last Updated

4 Dec 2025

Questions and Reviews

4.7 / 5

131 Ratings

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Sense of Place

96%

Navigation

96%

Production Quality

96%

Depth of Info

70%

Route

96%

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Medieval and Modern Brussels: A Tour through the Heart of Europe

About the Tour

Tour Producer

Isaac

Preview Location

Location 50

Grand Place

How VoiceMap Works

Major Landmarks

Royal Palace of Brussels

Place Royale

The Monument to General Thys

Place Royale Bruxelles - Statue de Godefroy de Bouillon

Musical Instruments Museum

Mount of the Arts

Carillon of the Mount of the Arts

Mary Magdalene Chapel

Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert

Jeanneke Pis

Royal Puppet Theater Toone

La Monnaie De Munt

Place De Brouckère

Black Tower

Place Sainte-Catherine

Church of Saint Catherine

Ancien Clocher Sainte Catherine

Brussels Stock Exchange

Grand Place

Great Market

Brussels City Museum

Brussels Town Hall

Tintin Comic Mural

Manneken Pis

GardeRobe MannekenPis

Tour Anneessens

Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon

Poelaert Place Ferris Wheel

Palace of Justice

Getting There

Route Overview

Directions to Starting Point

Tips

Places to stop along the way

Best time of day

Precautions

Get The App

Last Updated

Questions and Reviews