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Brussels for Tintin - Fans

In 1929 belgian comic artist Hergé sent reporter Tintin and his faithful dog Snowy the first time on the road.
After 23 adventures until 1975 Tintin has a worldwide fan base.

Brussels, the secret comic capital, celebrates its heroes and many other cartoon characters.

This site gives Tintin fans an overview for visiting the city and towns in the surroundings, eg, the Hergé Museum is located in Louvain-la-Neuve.

The tours:

	Grand Place / Grote Markt In the heart of the city you will find Tintin anywhere, in the comic strip museum, as mural and of course in shops as the "Boutique TINTIN"
	South Station and Flea Market Only a few meters from the centre you can find Tintin climbing on a steam locomotive, Tintin and Snowy in the sky and the annual Tintin flea market.
	Parc, Ixelles and European Quarter In this part of the city you follow the footsteps of Hergé, the creator of the series. From his birthplace to the Foundation (Fondation Hergé) and the street named after him.
	Stockel / Stokkel This metro station is a great attraction for fans - figures of all the adventures decorate the walls since the opening 1988.
	Boitsfort / Bosvoorde Fiction meets reality - close to his former residence, Hergé found a house as model for a villa in "The Seven Crystal Balls".
	Uccle / Ukkel His last years Hergé lived in Uccle. Here he is buried, and also here he revealed a statue of his famous "son".
Outside of Brussels:
	Louvain-La-Neuve Hergé Museum (Musée Hergé) There Hergé had an estate and the nearby Walibi theme park had for some years many attractions inspired by the adventures of Tintin .
?	Namur A plaque was attached in May 2009 at the front of the Palais de Congres. It shows the scene from "The Crab with the Golden Claws", in which Tintin climbs through the porthole behind Captain Haddock. Designer Andy Jacobs also created the Atlas Car Series

 

Some general tips to Brussels:

• If you run into Kuifje and Bobbie then you've met the flemish Tintin and Snowy, because Belgium speaks more than one language.
• Speaking of Language: The "officials" in hotel, bus and museum are kind people you may always ask „Parlez vous anglais?“
• A hotel in the centre is convenient, but of course you are quickly there by metro (=subway) or train
• A 3-day trip can be enough - just don't overbook your day.
  Friday through Sunday is good, just not Monday, because that is the "Day of the closed door" in all the museums

• For short trips, the 3-day Metro ticket is highly recommended
• Please note: changeover of the Metro line numbers in April 2009 - old descriptions are invalid (no more line 1A and 1B)
• Interesting links: Timetable for metro and train, www.bruxelles-tourisme.be

What else to find in Brussels …

(if you have to make the city palatable to your companions)

• Atomium
• Grand Place / Grote Markt
• Manneke Pis
• the „Galeries“ - shopping arcades
• Europe's largest dinosaur gallery (Museum for science)
• Comic shops
• The food, especially, of course, chocolates and chips
• Waterloo for Napoleon fans

     

 

For holidaymakers, more destinations in Europe:

France: Cheverny castle	The inspiration for Marlinspike offers a small exhibition for fans since june 2001: The secrets of Marlinspike
France: Saint-Nazaire	At the port of city the association "The Seven Suns" erected large-format signs where the action takes place in "The Seven Crystal Balls"
France: Angoulème	The city, that hosts an annual comic book festival since the 1970s, has also a "Rue Hergé" (Hergé street), since january 2003
Switzerland: Geneva	Hotel Cornavin from "The Calculus Affair" really exists. There's a sign for fans in the foyer, that it is not possible to book Calculus' room…
Switzerland: Nyon	Professor Topolinos house from "The Calculus Affair" has a model. It is 57, route de Saint-Cergue

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Text: Michael
Photos: Michael, Timic
 
The drawings from Hergé's pen shown on the photos are all copyright Hergé / Moulinsart 2009