April 2013 update: The peregrine falcons are back in the tower of the St. Michael and St. Gudula’s Cathedral in the middle of Brussels, and the female has already laid her eggs and is brooding them. You can see a live webcam of the nest here. Read the article below for background information on these great birds.
Category Archives: City Walk
Craftsmen – and women – in Maaseik
If you are interested in historical craftsmanship of the highest quality, then an event taking place in Maaseik on Tuesday evening, 19th March might interest you. Members of the “Pearls of Craftsmanship” will be exhibiting their work from 17:30 to 22:30. They include a wood carver, art restorer, painter, tailor, furniture maker, portrait artist and marble decorator, who will each be talking about their crafts. Guides will also be available to give short tours through the centre of Maaseik, and there’s also an open air play to watch. It takes place in five historic buildings in Maaseik. Registration (12 EUR) is at the town hall (Markt 1, 3680 Maaseik) or by emailing maaseik@davidsfonds.net Here’s a short video to whet your appetite.
Driving through Belgium
Guest blogger Helen Pritchard from NetCars gives her top three locations when driving through Belgium.
If you’re looking for the ultimate driving holiday, Belgium is an ideal destination. Being quite a small country and having pretty good road links, Belgium can be explored easily by car and offers a road trip with a difference. There is plenty of history and culture to keep you occupied, from the quaint medieval towns and villages to the historic First World War museums and preserved trenches at Sanctuary Wood and Flanders Fields. Continue reading
Peregrine falcons in Brussels 2012
April 2013 update: The peregrines are back in the cathedral tower, and the female has already laid her eggs and is brooding them. You can see a live webcam of the nest here. Read the article below for background information onthese great birds, in the middle of Brussels.
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April 2012 update: this year’s eggs have just hatched: click and watch this video.
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Check out this great video (April 2011) of the peregrine falcon chicks in the center of Brussels!
St. Michael and St. Gudula’s Cathedral, Brussels
If you think that the only city birds present in Brussels are pigeons, jackdaws and those flashily feathered but annoyingly noisy parakeets, then you are in for a big surprise. Breeding in one of the busiest areas of the city is a pair of one of the most exciting birds in the world.
The area in question centres on St. Michael and St. Gudula’s Cathedral. In 2005 – to the delight of ornithologists – a pair of peregrine falcons nested on one of the cathedral’s towers, where they successfully raised four young. In 2006 three eggs were laid, although only one chick survived. Since then a pair of peregrines has returned every year – and 2011 is no exception (see video above). Continue reading
