Brussels: area by area: The Upper Town

Dominating the Upper Town is the Royal Quarter, with the palace and the green and fountained Parc de Bruxelles leading through to the Belgian Parliament. The Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts comprise older and modern works, giving an overview of Belgian and old Flemish art. The place is huge, so leave enough time for Bruegel and Rubens as well as Magritte, Delvaux and an appearance by Monet. You can’t miss the stunning Musée des Instruments de Musique, the beautifully restored art nouveau Old England department store with four floors of 1,500 instruments, including bizarre contraptions by Adolphe Sax, the Belgian inventor of the saxophone. It has sweeping views from its upper floors.
Walk down the hill and you’ll come across Horta’s masterpiece, the Palais des Beaux-Arts, possibly the world’s first multi-purpose entertainment complex. Further on, you’ll see the Cathédrale de Sts Michel et Gudule on place Ste-Gudule, a Gothic masterpiece that towers above the Lower Town.