Culture

The strange vision of Mr Magritte

28 July 2021

Nadine Monfils, a Belgian writer and film director, has embarked on a cosy mystery, a detective genre in which a murder is used as a pretext for the investigation of a male, or more often female, amat

Belgian pressure in Cannes

08 July 2021

With its 74th event starting in Cannes, the world's largest film festival is returning to its usual routine after a hiatus due to the health crisis.

The Hôtel Solvay finally open to the public

30 June 2021

This large town house is a major landmark in the history of Art Nouveau and a total work of art.

Virginie Efira plays a mystic and lesbian in Benedetta

23 June 2021

Benedetta, a sultry historical drama by Paul Verhoeven starring our compatriot Virginie Efira in the title role, will be one of the thrills of the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, where it will be presented

Joachim Lafosse in the running at Cannes with "Les Intranquilles"

21 June 2021

The film "Les Intranquilles" (The Restless) by Brussels director Joachim Lafosse is being presented in competition at the Cannes Film Festival 2021.

A country of legends and thrills

The constant contact with other peoples and cultures hasn't been without its effects in terms of art and culture, both in the past and the present day. A true crossroads of the major influences of art, Belgium has always been home to a large number of artists and frequently establishes itself as the place for innovation for new movements.

Belgium has preserved much evidence of the greatest architectural and artistic movements. The Middle Ages saw cathedrals and belfries spring up, monuments that still grace the Belgian cities of art. Countless châteaux pepper the countryside and Belgium is the country with the most châteaux per km². As for Brussels, in the 20th century, it became the capital of Art Nouveau. All this explains the country's incredible architectural wealth.

The splendid works of the old Flemish painters such as Peter Paul Rubens, Pieter Bruegel, Jan Van Eyck, Antoine Van Dyck, along with more recent artists like Paul Delvaux or René Magritte, are now exhibited in museums all over the world.

The ultimate hub for comics, Belgium is home to the largest concentration of comic book authors in the world. They continue the tradition of Hergé (Tintin), Peyo (Les Schtroumpfs), Edgar P. Jacobs (Blake et Mortimer), Morris (Lucky Luke), Bob De Moor (Barelli, Cori de scheepsjongen), Willy Vandersteen (Suske en Wiske) and many more!

Today, many Belgian talents are making a name for themselves. This is particularly the case on the international music scene with Angèle, Milow, Selah Sue and Hooverphonic. On the big screen, a new generation of directors and actors are frequently recognised with awards including the Palme d'Or at Cannes and the Oscars in Hollywood.

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