Grand Tour of Belgium 2026-27 "Prestige"

A journey to discover the many souls and contrasts of Belgium.

Brussels, the capital of Belgium and seat of the European Union, is a cultured, refined and regal city, but also a gourmet’s delight: welcoming, cosmopolitan, professional, young and dynamic. Wallonia, the French-speaking part of Belgium, south of Brussels, will seduce you with its many facets. Since the time of the Gallic Wars, the region of Wallonia has marked the dividing line between the Latin and Germanic worlds. This strategic position in the heart of Europe has fostered the development of a highly varied heritage: military and religious, but also industrial and artistic. Its architectural heritage certainly stands out for its character: the churches, the castles surrounded by parks and gardens, the historic buildings and the art cities together illustrate the rich history of this region. Visiting Wallonia you will discover its generosity and its pure air, and you will savour the specialities of its exceptional gastronomy, based on traditional produce of the highest quality – and then Flanders.

Art & Beer Experience, on largely Belgian territory, holds in store for us colours that we “Mediterranean” travellers are not used to: the brilliant green that only the fields and woods of Northern Europe can take on, the blue of a sky that here seems to come down to meet us, or the blue of the rivers and canals, the true heritage of this region, the very particular yellow of the northern light… It is a land of unique poetry, which not by chance has been a source of inspiration for many artists.

Dinant, birthplace of the saxophone and of Leffe beer, is a seductive, quirky and cultured town. Lying on the banks of the River Meuse at the foot of imposing hills that rise almost vertically, the town of Dinant is, as a whole, a surprising and breathtaking sight. It is an unusual town not only for its natural setting but also for the attractions it offers. Dinant’s fame as a tourist destination is linked to Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, and to Leffe, one of the most famous abbey beers in the world. The former is commemorated by giant saxophones scattered around the town, an interactive museum and a couple of bronze statues; beer lovers, meanwhile, can visit the Leffe museum in an old monastery and taste every variety of Leffe produced today. But there are many other good reasons to visit Dinant: a trip along the river by boat or kayak, for instance, a visit to the natural caves just outside the town centre, a spur of rock that seems to have deliberately broken away from the mountain, elegant Renaissance buildings, and opportunities for hiking and other outdoor sports in the surrounding area.

Flanders, a fairy-tale region with at least 4 cities that are absolutely not to be missed in this fantastic part of Belgium. There is romantic Bruges with its stone historic centre and medieval tower, elegant Antwerp, city of Rubens and his masterpieces, delightful Ghent, whose riverbanks enchant visitors, and finally Leuven, university town and beer capital. When people speak of Flanders they often think of Bruges, whose canals have earned it a reputation as one of the most romantic cities in Belgium… and one of the most photogenic, but it is also a city rich in medieval monuments. With its cobbled streets, brick arches, stone churches and picturesque bridges, taking a bad photo here is quite a feat! Bruges is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has the best-preserved medieval centre in all of Flanders. One of its most striking examples is the Belfry (83 metres high), dating from between the 13th and 15th centuries AD, which towers over the open-air market. Bruges’ artistic and cultural heritage can be admired on foot thanks to the pedestrianisation of its historic centre, but to enjoy its beauty even more, we recommend a boat trip. Although small and classic in appearance, Bruges is a city full of offerings and opportunities, among the decidedly trendy areas of Flanders, with chocolate shops and top-class architectural treasures. Then there is Ghent, a truly surprising gem that embraces old and new. Its opera house, museums, churches and the many bridges spanning the river that runs through the city are wonderful, and it is a real treat to enjoy the view from the tables of an open-air café in the warmer months, perhaps with an excellent Belgian beer in hand. Find yourself a spot on the Graslei, the quay along the picturesque canal in the heart of the city, with its magical view of bridges, castles and medieval buildings. By bike you can explore the Patershol district, with its Flemish atmosphere and labyrinthine cobbled streets, the Castle of the Counts of Flanders (dating from 1180, in Tournai limestone) and the Belfry, a World Heritage Site. Among the masterpieces to admire are the Mystic Lamb, a polyptych by the Van Eyck brothers displayed in St Bavo’s Cathedral, and the architecture of the City Pavilion, which with its Gothic and Renaissance elements is one of the most spectacular buildings in the city. And then there is Antwerp, one of the most elegant cities not only in Flanders but in all of Europe, whose charm is hard to resist. On arrival you will be enchanted by its Central Station (early 20th century, among the 5 most beautiful in the world), but not to be missed are also the MAS, the 60-metre-high city museum, and the buildings overlooking the main square, dominated by the town hall of 1560. In the city you will also find Art Nouveau buildings, and the MoMu fashion museum is worth a stop.