Bruges to Courtray. Thourout (Station). A small town situated in a fertile district, remarkable for the manufacture of coarse woollen cloth and excellent lace. Here is a branch to Ostend. Its only objects of attraction are the large Collegiate Church and Stadthuis. The Castle of Wynendael is close by. It was in this place that the Bishop of Lincoln and his colleagues negotiated the marriage of Edward, Prince of Wales, with the daughter of Philip, King of France, and that of Edward I., the Prince's father, with the sister of that monarch. Lichtervelde (Station), the junction of a line to Dixmuiden and Dunkirk. Roulers (Station). A small town picturesquely situate on the Mander, amidst beautiful meadows. The church of St. Michael, to the rear of the west side of the market-place, a small structure with a beautiful spire, and the Stadthuis, an old building situated in the market-place, are worth a visit. Iseghem (Station), of no importance, where the railway crosses the Lys, and arrives at Courtray. See Route 1. FROM BRUGES TO COURTRAY.-The trains correspond with the government trains going to Ostend, Ghent, Brussels, and Antwerp. Tickets for Ostend, Ghent, Brussels, Liége, Mouscron, and Tournay, are delivered at Bruges, Thourout, Roulers, Iseghem, and Courtray; and in the great stations tickets are delivered for Bruges, Thourout, Lichtervelde, Iseghem, Courtray. FROM COURTRAY TO BRUGES.-The trains correspond at Courtray with the trains for Mouscron, Tournay, Lille, and Paris, by the Northern Line. ROUTE 5A. Courtray to Ypres and Poperinghe. Courtray. See Route 1. On this route we pass the village of Bisseghem, near which the Duke of York was defeated in 1793 by General Sonham, losing on the occasion 70 pieces of cannon. Menin (Station), a fortified town, situated on the Lys, which separates France from Belgium. It contains a population of 9,800 persons. Ypres (Station), or Ypern, in German. A fortified town, pron. "Eepray," on a plain, and containing 15,500 inhabitants. It was formerly very unhealthy, in consequence of the marshes surrounding it, but these have been since drained. In the fourteenth century it contained 200,000 inhabitants, and kept 4,000 looms constantly at work. They say it gives name to the linen called diaper (i.e., D'Ypres), so much used throughout the world. The old Clothiers' Hall, in the great market place, is a long, low building, in the Gothic style, containing historical pictures by M. Pauwels, and is now being restored. The Cathedral of St. Martin, in the Gothic style, contains a very good carved pulpit, and a painting, said to be by Van Eyck, the Fall of Man. In the choir a long stone points out the tomb of Jansen, or Janssen, Bishop of Ypres, who died in 1683. He was founder of the Jansenists, and was long and violently persecuted by the Jesuits. St. Martin's Day, 10-11 November, is celebrated by horn and lanterns. The other Churches deserve notice. There is a railway connection here with Armentières (page 3) and Comines, or Commines, the birth-place of Philip de Comines, the historian. Poperinghe (Station), near the French frontier. Population, 11,000. Lace and cloth are made. ROUTE 6. BRUSSELS (Station) the Capital of Belgium. POPULATION (1880), 170,345; or 388,785, including suburbs. Hotels: Taverne Royale. Café Restaurant, Passage St. ied the subject three of our i, and Southey; e present day gerated or unower town, who sions, its mage de St. Hubert, he community, "west end" of Ice Royale, emJacques sur ting, which is un streams out inates the vivid e statue of the ace to the Place pleasing coupe, the Palace of and unbrageous yale, the noble nd the splendid but will exclaim ble, the neatness assels, render it in Europe, and the seat of the all's are replaced s above 4 miles all round. The one of the finest ngth and width al variety of its cession of eventAt one period ced by 13 mouths epoch its citizens ties of the Duke y civil wars and ons of the Prohe Jews by the Brussels.-The he Cathedral and Galérie de St. -The Antwerp and Gladbac Antwerp to Brussel Between Antwerp and Ma cultivated, and there are looking old châteaux on both The stations are Berché Contich (branch to Boor comes to Contich from Ant and Wilryck. See page 59, Malines, or Mechlin (foi see Route 1). ROUT Bruges to Co Bruges.--See Route 3. Thourout (Station). As fertile district, remarkable f coarse woollen cloth and exe branch to Ostend. Its only are the large Collegiate C The Castle of Wynendael is this place that the Bishop of leagues negotiated the marri of Wales, with the daughte France, and that of Edward with the sister of that mona Lichtervelde (Station) to Dixmuiden and Dunkirk. Roulers (Station). A sm situate on the Mander, amid The church of St. Michael, side of the market-place, a s beautiful spire, and the Star situated in the market-place Iseghem (Station), of the railway crosses the Lys, Courtray.-See Route 1, FROM BRUGES TO COURT respond with the governo Ostend, Ghent, Brussels, a for Ostend, Ghent, Bruss and Tournay, are delivere out, Roulers, Iseghem, and great stations tickets are Thourout, Lichtervelde, Isegnem, vray. Hotel de Flandre, in the Place Royale. Grand Hotel de Brussels, 71, Boulevard Central; Hotel de Belle Vue: a large first-class establishent, kept by Mr. Dremel. Hotel de l'Europe, Place Royale. Table d'hôte 5 and 7. Grand Hotel Britannique, first-class hotel, situed Place du Trône, near the King's Palace and ie Boulevards; recommended. Taverne Royale, Café Restaurant, Passage St. Hubert. The fair city of Brussels has formed the subject of the warmest eulogiums from three of our greatest modern poets-Byron, Scott, and Southey; and no person who visits it in the present day will say that their praises are exaggerated or undeserved. No traveller, visiting the lower town, who observes its noble streets and mansions, its magnificent arcade known as the Passage de St. Hubert, inhabited by the mercantile part of the community, and then proceeds to the upper or "west end" of the city, commencing with the Place Royale, embellished by the church of St. Jacques sur Hotel de l'Univers, in the centre of the town, Caudenberg, with its fresco painting, which is ear the North Railway station. Barber's Hotel de France, Rue Royale, an oldstablished, first-class hotel. seen to much advantage when the sun streams out its setting glories upon it, and illuminates the vivid colours with magical effect, and the statue of the Hotel de Suède, Rue de l'Evêque, first-class hotel, crusader, Godfrey of Bouillon, thence to the Place verlooking the new Boulevards. Hotel de Saxe, Rue Neuve, lower town. Grand Hotel Gernay, corner of the Boulevard lu Nord and the Boulevard Botanique; clean and comfortable. Hotel de la Poste, Rue Fossé aux Loups; Hotel de Hollande, Rue de la Putterie, situated in the heart of the city, between the Park, the Cathedral, and the Grand Place, is quiet, comfortable, and exceedingly clean. Hotel du Grand Miroir, central situation, Rue de la Montagne, near the Galeries St Hubert. Hotel de l'Empereur, 63, Rue Neuve, near the station. Hotel Windsor, Rue de la Regence, upper town. English Hotel, second-class, 44, Rue de Brabant, opposite the North station. English Boarding.Houses.-At 23 and 24, Boulevard de Waterloo, by Mr. Wiltcher. At 26, Kue de Vienne, by Mrs. Janssens Jamagne. At 45, Avenue de la Toison d'Or, by Mr. B. De Boeck. At 6, Rue Jourdan (Avenue Louise), by Mrs. Bourecoud. Culliford's, Rue Bodenbroek. French and English Pension.-10, Rue Caroly, Mrs. Gachet. Horton's Prince of Wales Commercial Inn and Tavern, 8, Rue Villa Hermosa. des Palais, and there admires the pleasing coupd'œil formed by the King's Palace, the Palace of the Prince of Orange, the beautiful and unbrageous Park, the magnificent Rue Royale, the noble buildings in the Rue de la Loi and the splendid view from the Place du Congrès, but will exclaim that the beauty of the tout ensemble, the neatness and cleanliness of this part of Brussels, render it one of the most charming cities in Europe, and impart a becoming dignity to the seat of the Belgian government. Its former walls are replaced by broad well-planted Boulevards above 4 miles long, with convenient tramways all round. The Senne is now covered in, forming one of the finest streets in Europe, whether for length and width or for the beauty and architectural variety of its buildings. Its history is replete with a succession of eventful scenes and tragical episodes. At one period depopulated by the plague, produced by 18 mouths of consecutive rain; at another epoch its citizens decimated by the atrocious cruelties of the Duke of Alva, the Spanish Regent; by civil wars and revolutions; religious persecutions of the Protestants by the Catholics, of the Jews by the Christians. Objects of attraction in Brussels.-The Town Hall and Grand Place. The Cathedral and Restaurant and Tavern Duvivier, Rue du Musée. other churches. The Museum. Galérie de St. D Hubert. The Palace of the Duc d'Aremberg, and the Square du Petit Sablon. Palais de Justice. The Botanical Gardens, and the "Musée Wiertz," near the Parc Léopold and the Luxembourg station. The Monument of Egmont and Hoorn. The Fontaine de Bronskere at the Namur Gate. The Bois de la Cambre. The Mint. Finally, the Town Park, with the King's Palace on one side and the Houses of Parliament on the other. The city of Brussels, which is called in French, Bruxelles, and in Flemish Brüssel, is in the form of a pear, and is built partly on an acclivity, once covered by the forest of Soignies, and partly on a plain. Its name is supposed to be derived from Brug- Senne (bridge over the Senne), corrupted into Brussels and Bruxelles. The climate of Brussels is temperate, and, although extremely variable, and somewhat moist, it is healthy, particularly in the higher part of the town. It has been computed that during the year, upon an average, there are 17 days of snowy weather, 11 of hail, and 149 of rain. The manufactures of Brussels consist principally of its far-famed lace; printed cottons; carriages, remarkable for their elegance, comfort, light ap pearance, and solidity; beer of generally esteemed quality; printing and hanging papers; lithographic and printing establishments, especially of books; type foundries; sugar refineries; horse hair and woollen stuffs; brass and iron foundries: painted porcelains; furniture; soaps; and chemical productions. The Place Royale, near St. Jacques Church, is one of the beautiful architectural creations of the last century, by the architect Guimard. It presents a monumental aspect, and is remarkable for the grand regularity of its appearance. On one side it opens to Rue Rovale and the Royal Palace; on the other, to the Palace of the Count of Flanders (the king's brother), Rue de la Régence, and the Palais de Justice. An equestrian Statue of Godfrey de Bouillon, the celebrated chief of the first Crusade, adorns the square. It is a fine work of art in bronze, by M. E. Simonis. The Park is an enclosure in the higher town, forming a square divided into avenues, lined with trees and intersected by beautiful walks ornamented with statues. It has three principal walks, planted with lofty trees. It was the principal scene of action in the revolution of 1830. A fine basin in the centre, and another in the principal avenue, with a beautiful fountain, add to the attractions of this delightful spot. At the N.E. corner is the Théâtre du Parc, and an enclosure called the Waux Hall, where the Opera Band gives concerts every evening at eight o'clock, May to September admission, lfr. The following are the principal buildings surrounding the Park: The King's Palace.-A large and vast edifice, presenting in its exterior neither attraction nor beauty. Its interior is magnificently furnished. Under the French, this Palace was the Hôtel de la Préfecture. Napoleon and the Empress Josephine lodged in it in 1897, and Maria Louise in 1811. It has several suites of very noble rooms, and has been considerably enlarged by Leopold II. The Gallery of Paintings collected by King Leo pold is well worth visiting; moreover, there are several paintings of peculiar interest to English visitors, viz.: a portrait of the lamented Princess Charlotte, a beautiful one of the late Queen of the Belgians, several others of great merit and interest; for instance, those of the King of the French and his Queen, Marie Amelie; and last, though not least, two full-length portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, by Winterhalter. The Palace des Académies, or Palace of the Prince of Orange, is close to the King's Palace. The late King of Holland erected it at the cost of the city, and presented it to that Prince. It contains 12 wall paintings of Belgian history, by Slingeneyer. A statue of Quetelet, director of the Observatory, stands in front. The Chambers of Representatives, or Palais de la Nation, are situated in the Rue de la Loi. They were built by the Empress Maria Theresa. At the Senate House, M. Gallait, the celebrated historical painter, is engaged upon a series of nine subjects from Belgian history, including Charlemagne, Godfrey of Bouillon, Charles V., &c. Strangers are admitted during the debates. The part containing the Chamber of Deputies and the Library was burnt down 1883 (owing to the gaslights setting fire to the woodwork of the ceiling), and rebuilt in 1885. |