It is impossible to talk about Brussels without mentioning its great cultural heritage. In the city we can see fragments of the French, Dutch, Spanish and Flemish periods. But that’s not all, since this European capital has its own space dedicated to the Far East, in which we can appreciate the Chinese Pavilion.
In 1900, an event that marked the beginning of the 20th century took place in Paris. This was the Universal Exhibition, in which a whole series of cultural riches, technological achievements, monuments, advances in fields such as biology, engineering and electricity, different types of gastronomy and many other things were presented.
France, which at that time was one of the most important nations in the world, also prepared the second Olympic Games that would be held since the disappearance of Ancient Greece.
Of course, this exhibition allowed the great European powers to show their colonial might, and it opened one of the first windows to the Far East.
The King of Belgium, Leopold II, was one of the guests of honor at this important cultural celebration, and the monarch was more than enchanted by the buildings built by China and Japan. His fascination was so great that he even wanted to buy the Japanese Tower and the Chinese Pavilion, with the aim of moving them to Brussels.
Although the king could not fully acquire the two buildings, he was able to recreate them, following their original design. His intention was to turn the Chinese Pavilion into a restaurant.
Despite the fact that the 20th century began with such a magnificent universal exhibition, the political landscape of Europe soon changed completely, and its nations were involved in the terrible crises of the First and Second World Wars.
Belgium was one of the countries invaded by the German army on both occasions, so many of its great cultural projects had to be shelved or postponed indefinitely. The Museum of the Far East, along with its Chinese Pavilion and Japanese Tower, was one of these abandoned plans.
Today, the park where both monuments are located is closed to the public, as a notorious restoration and conservation process is underway. It is hoped that in time the legendary Museum of the Far East will be able to open its doors to visitors.
Even though the museum doors are closed, the structure of the Japanese Tower and the Chinese Pavilion can be clearly seen from the outside. Similarly, the Museum of the Far East is located in the Laeken neighborhood, which has many other tourist spots.
This makes the place one of the most peculiar attractions in Brussels, but the mystery behind these buildings and the possible promise that they will be open to the public, makes many tourists and visitors come to take a look.
So if you are looking for an attraction out of the ordinary, and that stands out against the usual Gothic and medieval buildings that we can see in the Belgian capital, then the Chinese Pavilion is just what you are looking for. Dare to discover it! Rest assured that the experience will be worth it.
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