Viewfinders and RPS Benelux Chapter (a branch of the Royal Photographic Society -RPS, UK. ) organized a weekend of photography, “Weekend Wonder Walk” - in Brussels during the weekend of 18 – 20 May 2024. 

Day 1 - Saturday afternoon

- Brussels Pride Parade. The march started at the “Mont des Arts / Kunstberg” at 14:00. The “Pride Village” is along the “Keizerslaan” / Bld de L’Empereur, at the lower end of the Kunstberg gardens. Info here: https://www.brusselspride.eu/en/programme

- Brussels and the E.U. Covering Cinquantenaire, Jubelpark, Leopoldpark, EU buildings.(Southeast Brussels). Led by Alun Foster. The walk went through the monuments and park celebrating the 50th anniversary of the formation of Belgium, and continued from there through the most important parts of the EU area, with explanation about the buildings and institutions that occupy them. We past a section of the Berlin Wall. At this walk we found the added interest of a medieval market!

- Evening Dinner, in the town center, at the “Houtsiplou” restaurant.

(All texts by Katherine Maguire and Alun Foster)

Day 2 - Sunday (all day walk)

- “This is Brussels”. Meeting at the Parc metro station, walking through the Royal park towards the Palace, down to Koningsplein and to the “Paleis van Karel van Lotharingen”. Then via Museumstraat opposite the “Old England” art nouveau building. Along Ravensteinstraat to the the “Galerij Ravenstein” shopping center, walking through the center to Kantersteen. We stopped in Kantersteen opposite Central Station to have lunch. We then continued on via Spanjeplein to the “Koninklijke Sint-Hubertusgalerijen” shopping center.

Moving on from there, we went to the “Grote Markt”.  We then stopped for drinks opposite the  “Manneken Pis”, a 17 century statue of a young boy.

After our break we continued to the skatepark Chapelle - Kapelle opposite the church “Kerk van Onze Lieve Vrouwe Ter Kapelle”. It was here that we experienced our first rain shower of the weekend. Then along the Franz Merjaystraat, and Brugmannlaan, reaching the Hortamuseum in Amerikaanestraat.  This walk was led by Alun Foster. 

Day 3 - Monday

- Morning Walk : Brussels Art-Nouveau. Southwest Brussels. The Monday morning walk was led by Paula Cagli. We were treated to a very interesting history of the Art Nouveau buildings in the Sint-Gillis , Elsene areas of Brussels. 

 We met at the Maison Hannon building, and then went on to walk down Hervormingsstraat.  Then along the Franz Merjaystraat, and Brugmannlaan, reaching the Hortamuseum in Amerikaanestraat.  We continued to the corner of Livornostraat/Florencestraat, 

Down to the Faiderstraat and onto the Paul Emile Jansonstraat. The walk then ended at the Paul Emile Jansonstraat for most of us.

After the morning walk, we went with the tram/metro into the city and had lunch at a café close to the Beurs.

- Afternoon Walk: Canal area and Tour en Taxis. (Walk from the city centre). Led by Joaquim Capitao. The final walk of the weekend started in front of the Beurs. We walked past the Sint-Katelijnekerk and Brandhoutkaai. Then along Timmerhoutkaal to the canal.  We continued along the canal to Tour and Taxis.