Sep 26, 2026 · 12 min · 9 segments
Very Orla talks about her visit to Brussels and gives background to it's history and what you can see and do there.
It is said the founding date of Brussels is circa 979 CE, when Charles the Duke of Lower Lofaringia, that's a bit of a word, isn't it, transferred the relics of St. Gajula to the chapel that was near the present-day Cathedral of St. Michael and Gajula.
A fort was built on St. Gerry Island.
The castle, like other forts, fortifications of the time, was in the city centre.
Well, it was in the centre and then the city began to grow around it.
As Brussels grew, the first city walls were constructed around 1100, which enclosed the lower town around the market area.
where Grande Place is now located, and the upper town on Kudenberg Hill, where the Dukes of Brabant built their palace.
And you can read about Kudenberg Palace on my travel blog on veryallatravel.com.
My surname is from Belgium and I've been researching into this and I found out so much information.
The research I've undertaken on a whim has made me look into my entire family history.
And I organised my trip to Brussels as I plan a few more, exploring other magical places, other lovely cities and countries.
And I've been able to trace back my family to 1066 and much earlier to the Vikings, which is just... mind-blowing.
And I will go into that at another time.
But as always, I digress.
So there's more content coming soon on my travel podcast and my travel blogs.
It is said the founding date of Brussels is circa 979 CE, when Charles the Duke of Lower Lofaringia, that's a bit of a word, isn't it, transferred the relics of St. Gajula to the chapel that was near the present-day Cathedral of St. Michael and Gajula.
A fort was built on St. Gerry Island.
The castle, like other forts, fortifications of the time, was in the city centre.
Well, it was in the centre and then the city began to grow around it.
As Brussels grew, the first city walls were constructed around 1100, which enclosed the lower town around the market area.
where Grande Place is now located, and the upper town on Kudenberg Hill, where the Dukes of Brabant built their palace.
And you can read about Kudenberg Palace on my travel blog on veryallatravel.com.
My surname is from Belgium and I've been researching into this and I found out so much information.
The research I've undertaken on a whim has made me look into my entire family history.
And I organised my trip to Brussels as I plan a few more, exploring other magical places, other lovely cities and countries.
And I've been able to trace back my family to 1066 and much earlier to the Vikings, which is just... mind-blowing.
And I will go into that at another time.
But as always, I digress.
So there's more content coming soon on my travel podcast and my travel blogs.
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