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War Pigeons commemorative statue

admin — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:17:25 +0000

Belgium is most likely the only country in the world to possess a statute to honor the “pigeon soldat” or soldier pigeon and his contribution during both Great World wars.

Whether released at 500 m or 100 km from home, even in certain cases over 1,500 km, the messenger pigeon has that fantastic ability to always know its way back.This trait was detected a long time ago, notably by Julius Caesar who, during the invasion of Gaul, used homing pigeons to send messages back to Rome to inform headquarters of his campaign’s progress.

On the other hand the Myth of the pigeon that you sometimes see in movies which is released and asked to take a message somewhere and then return, doesn’t exist. The pigeon is only able of returning home. This is why, in order to send a message to several places, pigeons raised at each destination have to be taken out.

Location:

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Statue honoring the War Pigeons

Another perspective

The Monument au Pigeon Soldat in it’s entirety

Girls statues outside the EU Charlemagne Building

admin — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:57:52 +0000

These Bronzes Statues of young girls are found in front of the Charlemagne building which is one of the many the European Union Institutions of Brussels. They were made by sculptor René Julien in 1998. Located right next to the Shuman subway station at 170 Rue de la Loi.

The set of bronze sculptures in their entirety

The statue to the right is called L’espérance (Hope)

L’oiseleuse et La copine au chapeau

I haven’t found any information anywhere about the last two sets

Statue Saint-Michel au Marché au poissons

admin — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:03:00 +0000

The Statue of Archangel Michael patron Saint of the city of Brussels can be found standing proudly on top of a building on the corner Rue Locquenghein and Quai au bois de construction just after the Marché aux Poissons.

Saint-Michael trampling Satan

l’Homme de l’Atlantide statue

admin — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:36:41 +0000

The Man from Atlantis statue is part of a fountain created in 2003 by sculptor Luk Van Soom. It is Located just in front of the Hilton at 38 Boulevard de Waterloo in between the Porte de Namur and Louise subway station.

Approaching the strange looking statue

A closer look at this work of art seems to portrait oddly enough Donald Duck dressed in full scuba diving gear.

From the side

Compte Charles Woeste statue

admin — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:49:27 +0000

Charles Woeste (1837-1922) was a Lawyer and an important Political figure of Belgium. He played a big role in the foundation of the Catholic Party in his earlier career then moved onto being a member of the parliament and eventually became Minister of Justice. As gratitude for his service to the country in 1914 and was granted the title of Count by King Léopold II.

Godefroid de Bouillon statue

admin — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:50:08 +0000

The statue of Godfrey of Bouillon is located at Place Royale or in English at Royal Square right in front of the Saint-Jacques-sur-Coudenberg church. Born around 1060 in Baisy-Thy, province of Brabant in what is part of modern-day Belgium he was the first King of Jerusalem. He followed Pope Urban II’s call for the liberation of Jerusalem and led the first Crusade from 1096 to 1099 to recapture the Holy Land. He died shortly after in Jerusalem on the 17 of July 1100.

Side view with Godfrey of Bouillon looking straight ahead while his horse with a foot in the air glances in our direction.

Frontal shot with the Saint-Jacques-sur-Coudenberg church in the back

Don Quichotte et Sancho Panza

admin — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 17:25:03 +0000

Don Quixote and Sancho Panza statue at Place d’Espagne. These are the two main characters depicted in Miguel de Cervantes fictional novel Don Quijote de la Mancha published in 1604.

Queen Elisabeth statue

admin — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:41:49 +0000

Queen Elisabeth of Belgium statue, born Elisabeth of Bavaria. Her ascension from Duchess to Queen came in 1900 when she married Prince Albert who later became King of Belgium and reigned from 1909 to 1934. She became popular among the Belgians during WWI for her visits on the front lines to wounded soldiers and being a sponsor of a nursing unit. She founded in 1937 a musical festival that was renamed later in her honor the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition that is world famous to this day.

The Queen Elisabeth statue made by René Cliquet in 1980

Charles Karel Buls fountain

admin — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:27:34 +0000

The Charles Karel Buls statue is found at the Agora Square right next to the rue du marché aux herbes. It’s a memorial in the honor of Charles Buls who was mayor of Brussels from 1881 until 1899. He is remembered most of all today for his fight to vote laws to preserve and fund the restoration some of the best known jewels of the city like the Grand Place that are now considered a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Zinneke Pis

admin — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 13:10:07 +0000

The Zinneke Pis which can be found at the corner of rue des Chartreux and rue du Vieux-Marché is a little bronze statue of a dog peeing. In Brussels dialect the word “Zinneke” would mean bastard dog. it’s the latest (1998) of the three peeing statues that you can find at a short distance from one another in the center of Brussels. The most famous is the Manneke pis little boy statue dating back from 1619 which attracts the brunt of the tourists followed by the little girl one Jeanneke Pis erected in 1987.