European Parliament

Lonely Planet review

The distinctive domed European Parliament sits next to Parc Léopold. Opened in 1998 by King Albert II, it's all steel and blue glass and is nicknamed 'Caprice des Dieux' (Whim of the Gods) after a French cheese. The European Parliament is the EU's legislative branch; elections are held every five years (next in 2010). It is the only EU institution that meets and debates in public.

Free tours, using multilingual headphones, start at the European Parliament Visitor's Centre, attached to the Paul-Henri Spaak section of the parliament. It's also possible to sit in on a parliamentary session in the huge debating chamber (the hemicycle).

The easiest way to get to the European Parliament from central Brussels is with bus 38 (direction Homborch; departs from next to Gare Centrale) to the stop De Meeus on Rue du Luxembourg. From this street there's a good view of the parliament's blue dome.