The concierge of a hotel in the Belgian capital recommends tours for those who want to immerse themselves in the life of the Smurfs, Tintin and other fictional characters.
Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is considered the Comics Capital of the World, and it’s not hard to see why. Many of the streets and city walls, in fact, are practically a picture book, a project that began in the 1990s when the city allowed companies to paint large murals on the gables of buildings. In this way, walking through the streets it is easy to find images of iconic characters from the world of comics, as if they had left the pages of city life.
But the history of the Belgian capital with comics goes back much further. After all, it is there that the Smurfs were born, adorable blue creatures, as well as Tintin, a journalist who has been involved in many adventures together with Milu and Captain Haddock. Furthermore, in 1989, the Belgian Comic Strip Centerthe largest museum in the world dedicated to the subject: over 4,200 square meters with manuscripts, replicas of characters and original works.
It is thanks to this Brussels passion for the world of comics that the Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo, located in the city center, has created an experience that leads guests to explore this universe even more. He’s Comic Concierge and who’s running the project Ahlem Mosadda, so far the only known concierge specializing in comics. He proposes a “comic hunt” in which the participants retrace sixty works scattered around Brussels, from hidden alleys to the largest museums in the city. The decoration of the hotel rooms was also inspired by comics.
Below is a list of the main attractions dedicated to comics in Brussels, prepared by Ahlem Mosaddak:
The Maison de la Bande Dessinée
An oasis for comic book fans: since 2005 the bookshop has offered a wide range of comics in French, Dutch, English, German and Spanish. There are also Tintin sticker albums, available in over 50 languages ​​and dialects. In the place it is still possible to find and studies on authors and reference works, manga, statues, posters, soft toys, postcards, playing cards and puzzles.
Brussels Comic Strip Route
The Comic Strip in Brussels brings together more than 40 murals scattered around the city. Strolling along Rue l’Etuve, for example, the visitor comes across a giant painting by Tintin descending a staircase, followed by Milu and Captain Haddock.
The Museum of Comic Art
In the heart of Brussels, built in an Art Nouveau building from 1906, the museum has a very rich collection of comics. Between permanent and temporary exhibitions, it is possible to know the trajectory of the “ninth art”, from the rock figures to the most recent publications.
The Hergé Museum
In this museum, the biggest star is the classic “The Adventures of Tintin”, created by the Belgian cartoonist Hergé. The halls of the attraction include more than 80 original plates, 800 photographs, the artist’s personal effects and documents. The space itself is completely playful, with curved lines and very colorful, as if the visitors were inside a comic. It is located in the city of Louvain-la-Neuve, less than an hour by train from Brussels. Purchase Tintin Comics here.
MOOF
Comic characters and scenarios come to life in this space, as the museum houses a private collection of figurines of Tintin, Spirou, Smurfs, Spider-Man, Batman, Hulk and so on. The characters also appear in screenings, video games and explanatory videos.
Source: Terra
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