Tintin comes to townFamous in the four corners of the globe, the reporter with the quiff has decided to settle down in the capital. His father Hergé lived here and often used the city as inspiration in his albums. Follow in Tintin's footsteps as you walk the streets of Brussels.

Starting from the city centre, there you will find the new mural devoted to the cartoon character, just a few paces from another Belgian icon, the Manneken-Pis. When it comes to souvenirs, you must visit the official Tintin shop, just a quiff's throw from there on the other side of the Grand-Place. Higher up, the typical bar or "estaminet" called « La fleur en papier doré » was one of Hergé and his surrealist friends' favourite haunts. To spend time here is to enter a parallel universe. A bit further is the splendid "Centre belge de la Bande dessinée" with a special area totally devoted to the stories created and illustrated by Hergé, with Tintin in pride of place, of course! As you enter the centre you will see the rocket that took the reporter to the moon in «Destination Moon», as well as a unique bust of the Brussels hero. A last haunt to visit lies in the heart of the Marolles. You can enter this part of town via the Jeu de Balle flea market that Hergé used as inspiration for the start of his album «The Secret of the Unicorn». A place to enjoy for its culturally-diverse, typically Brussels atmosphere.

On the other side of the city, in the Stockel underground station you will find a giant mural showing some 140 characters taken from the 22 adventures of Tintin. The sketches were drawn by Hergé a short time before his death. Definitely worth a visit!

If you want to learn more on the subject, associations organise guided tours where you can discover interesting routes filled with tales and anecdotes for the most passionate Tintin fans and curious comic strip aficionados. OLIGRAPHE / van de Kerchove