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This is Belgium
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as you've never seen it before.
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From above, we'll reveal a coastal nation
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that draws on ancient traditions
and innovative spirit
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to master its landscape
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and shape its forward thinking future.
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In this series, we'll take
an aerial tour across Europe.
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Filmed over the course of a single year.
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And through the changing seasons
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we'll uncover the culture,
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history
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and engineering,
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that built the great European
nations we see today.
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Belgium is a coastal nation
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that sits on the corner
of northwestern Europe.
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It's bordered by four countries
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including France to the south
and Germany to the east.
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It's home to 11.5 million people
and they're all packed into an area
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18 times smaller
than its neighbor, France.
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Belgium is one of Europe's
smallest countries,
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yet, it's a nation of vivid contrasts.
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From the beaches and plains of the north,
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to the rugged hills
and thick forests of the south.
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The castles of the middle ages
serve as a reminder
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of the constant tussle
between empires for its territory,
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and even today it's home
to the three official languages
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of Flemish, French and German.
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As the colder months fade,
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the warmer weather beckons
the year's first shoots.
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And the snows covering Brussels melt away,
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heralding the arrival of spring.
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Belgium gained independence
from the Netherlands in 1830
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and established a monarchy
which resides in the capital, Brussels.
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It's the administrative, financial
and commercial heart of the nation,
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and its center is the home
of the strikingly
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modern European Union parliament.
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Yet there's another
even more unusual building
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that lies on the outskirts
of this historic city.
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Brussels sits in the middle of the country
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on the banks of the Senne.
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It's a sea of concrete and slate,
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but a closer look reveals
a strange structure
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that glints brightly
in the spring time light.
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This is the astonishing Atomium.
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It was built as the emblem
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for the 1958 Brussels World Fair.
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Today, it's a museum
with a viewing lounge.
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But it's more famous as a world
renowned symbol of Brussels.
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And with the winter behind it,
it's the perfect time
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to give these famous spheres
a spring clean.
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This vertiginous task
rests on the shoulders
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of Tommy Oosterbosch and his team.
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They travel around the country cleaning
structures that are difficult to reach.
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I've been doing this job
for the Atomium for ten years.
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{\an8}It's a building we are attached to.
It's the symbol of Belgium,
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{\an8}like The Torre Eiffel in Paris,
just a bit smaller.
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Today, Tommy's team is cleaning
just one of Atomium's nine spheres.
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A task so tricky will take them
all day to complete it.
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From their lofty vantage point,
Tommy and the team
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have incredible views
across the whole city.
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They carefully lower themselves
over the edge of the top sphere
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and start cleaning
the public viewing lounge.
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The Atomium resembles an iron crystal
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magnified 165 billion times.
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The nine perfect spheres
are 18 meters in diameter.
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They're held upright
by 20 tubes, three meters wide.
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Escalators run inside the tubes
enabling access between the spheres.
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Despite
its groundbreaking design,
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the Atomium was originally conceived
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to be a temporary construction.
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Year after year,
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its destruction was postponed,
until, finally, the city's authorities
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decided to preserve it
as part of the nation's heritage.
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After five hours,
and with the early spring
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darkness fast approaching,
the team cleans the last window
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on the top sphere.
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It will take them a further two weeks
to finish the rest of the structure,
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so tourists in their thousands
can continue to enjoy the stunning vistas
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of one of Europe's oldest capitals.
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The biggest satisfaction
is the final result,
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and people mentioned that the Atomium
shines more than it did a month before.
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In spring,
visitors to Belgium's coastline
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queue up to take the scenic Kusttram,
the longest tram in the world.
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It carries passengers
along the entire coast,
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passing towns such as Ostend,
where a marathon is held every year,
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and Knokke-Heist,
where thousands of Belgians gather
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for the Zoute Grand Prix, a festival
that involves a classic car race.
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Spring heralds another coastal activity
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that is almost unheard
of anywhere else in the world.
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The country's coastline
runs for 65 kilometers
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from France in the south west
to the Netherlands in the north east.
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Flying down through the clouds
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reveals wide sandy beaches
that stretch for miles,
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often pushing 300 meters inland.
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One beach in the far northwestern corner
hides an extraordinary aerial secret.
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This is Sint Andre Beach in Oostduinkerke.
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It's the home of an astonishing
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500 year old tradition
best observed from the skies.
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For six months of the year,
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fishermen known as paardenvissers
ride huge horses into the freezing waters.
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Their aim is to catch as many
grey shrimp as their nets will allow.
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Today this practice is kept alive
by only 16 fishermen.
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Stefaan Hancke has been
a paardenvisser for over 20 years.
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{\an8}I became a horseback fishermen
because of my love for the draft horse.
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{\an8}My grandparents on both
sides have draft horses.
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Stefaan uses a huge
Belgian draft horse
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called Dina for the job.
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Belgian drafts
stand almost two meters tall
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and are capable of pulling
more than a 1,000 kilograms.
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They can weigh up to a ton.
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The fishing takes place
an hour either side of low tide.
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Seen from above, the water looks calm.
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But thousands of grey shrimp
cluster beneath the surface.
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As sand meets water,
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Stefaan ties a nine meter long funnel
shaped net to Dina's back.
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As they push through the water,
a metal chain drags over the seabed
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creating shock waves
which kick up the shrimp.
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The net fans out to catch them.
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This age old artisanal method is more
sustainable than industrial fishing
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since the use of lighter equipment
limits the damage to the seabed.
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But there's no way
of knowing just yet
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if the nets are filling up with shrimp.
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20 minutes later
horseback fishermen, Stefaan,
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carefully sieves his haul of shrimp
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and returns any
hitch hiking crabs to the sea.
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It's been a successful day.
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His catch weighs 13 kilograms.
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Back home, the shrimp are prepped,
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boiled and quickly dried for market.
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For Stefaan,
it's also time to take a breather
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and snack on the fruits of his labor.
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I'm always happy catching shrimp.
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It's the satisfaction
of being outside with the animal.
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The whole package.
I'd rather have painful hands from working
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than pain in my head from thinking.
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As the cold spring mornings
make way for warmer temperatures,
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couples and families take advantage
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of the sandy shorelines
soaking in the sun.
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And shrimp fishermen are joined
by locals and tourists alike
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on Belgium's beaches,
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as summer arrives.
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Belgium is one of the most densely
populated countries in Europe.
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98 percent of Belgians live in urban areas
like Brussels and Antwerp.
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Farmland is in short supply,
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yet this small nation is the world's
leading exporter of begonias
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and the largest grower
of conference pears.
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And what's grown here
makes up a quarter of the country's GDP.
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There's one crop that symbolizes
the nation more than any other.
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In Belgium's northwest,
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the plains of West Flanders
stretch out for miles.
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Viewed from above,
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they form a patchwork of low lying fields
of wheat and sugar beet.
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Yet a closer look
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reveals darker patches
and is a giant crop like no other.
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The municipality of Poperinge
is hop country.
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Hops are a key ingredient in Belgium's
historically famous beer industry.
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But growing them provides
an aerial challenge of epic proportions.
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Flying above the rows reveals long stems
or vines up to seven meters high.
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Almost as tall as a two story house.
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And like Jack's magic beanstalk,
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they grow at an astonishing rate.
More than ten centimeters a day.
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In late summer,
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it rests on the shoulders
of Benedikte Coutigny
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to organize the harvest
of this most vertiginous of crops.
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{\an8}The family of my husband
has already cultivating hops
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{\an8}here on this farm since 1893.
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When it's September,
it's very busy period.
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You can smell all the flavors
and all the aromas.
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It's an exciting time.
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Hops have been used to give beer
a bitter flavor for 1,200 years.
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When the soft cones are filled with
aromatic oils, they are ready for harvest.
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The family use special harvesting
machines that cut the binds at the bottom,
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and carefully unwind the plants
from their towering supports.
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At the back of the harvester,
a track pulls the whole vine in.
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A successful hop harvest
has been the livelihood
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of the locals in Poperinge
for more than 500 years.
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New shoots appear in spring
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and the family wind them around
a hot training wire by hand
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to allow them to grow upwards.
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The hops bloom in early July
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and are monitored constantly
until they are ripe.
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Over eight long hours,
Benedikte and her team strip the vines
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and their cones off the metal supports.
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Belgium's hops are prized
and reserved for only the finest of beers.
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It's important to have a good harvest
at the end of the season.
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We deliver different flavors,
different varieties
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to several breweries here in Belgium.
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The breweries are counting on us.
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By the end of the day,
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the team have collected 3,000 hops
and cleared half a hectare.
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But there's
still work to be done.
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Benedikte's team unloads the hops
into a special machine
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that strips the vine and spits it out.
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The hot cones drop on to
a conveyor belt to be dried and packaged.
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Benedikte's hops make their way
to breweries all over Belgium
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where they are turned
into world renowned beer.
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It's a hobby,
of course, and my life.
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It's my work.
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But working in plantations,
it's fantastic.
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In the early 19th century,
the newly independent Belgian nation
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was the first in continental Europe
to embrace the industrial revolution.
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For the young country's economy to thrive,
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it needed to be linked on all four corners
by an extensive network of waterways.
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Many of these canals
are still in use today.
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Yet for the boats passing through,
it's not always plain sailing.
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A 1,600 kilometer network
of 52 canals and rivers
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crisscross two thirds of the nation.
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With miles of flatland,
Flanders provides the perfect way
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to trade goods around the country.
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But the hills of Wallonia pose a unique
challenge for ships passing through.
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In the middle of these hills
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is a mysterious structure that looks like
something out of a science fiction film.
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00:17:40,360 --> 00:17:44,840
This is the incredible
100 meter tall Strepy-Thieu boat lift.
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It's the tallest boat lift in Europe.
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Marc Michaux has spent 15 years
ensuring smooth sailing
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for every boat that passes through.
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{\an8}The boat lift is a work of art
that allows very large,
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{\an8}very big boat to cross
a significant difference in levels.
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The lift opened in 2002
and around 6,000 boats a year use it.
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It consists of two huge
docking bays rigged to a set of weights.
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Each bay is 112 meters long
and filled with water.
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Vessels sail into the base
that then rise or fall 73 meters.
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The machine is capable of lifting
boats up to 88 meters in length.
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Each bay is balanced by 112 steel cables,
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and 32 control cables move each lift.
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Huge counterweights weighing
1,000 tons each
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are moved by four
730 horse power electric engines.
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It's a big operation that takes
12 full time lock keepers
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to keep it running for 15 hours a day,
six days a week.
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The 85 meter long Infinity 3
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slowly approaches the lift
carrying its load of scrap metal.
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It weighs more than 1,300 tons.
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The lockkeeper opens
a set of three gates at the top.
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Each gate
functions as a water lock
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to prevent liquid from
seeping out of the tank.
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The barge enters the tank
and the gates close.
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It takes six minutes for the boat
to reach the lower canal.
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The lock keepers opened the bottom gates
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to allow the massive barge
to continue its journey.
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As it passes through,
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it's a job well done.
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00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:10,360
It is the largest
elevator in Europe.
243
00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:14,360
I'm always very proud to show what
we've been able to do here in this region.
244
00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:27,160
As summer comes to an end,
245
00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:31,320
the forests in Belgium's south
take on a bronze sheen,
246
00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:37,920
and castles all over the nation
stand in relief against the auburn trees.
247
00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:47,440
Autumn comes to Belgium.
248
00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:54,360
The mild autumnal climate
249
00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:58,200
is perfect for one of Belgium's
most popular activities,
250
00:20:59,040 --> 00:21:00,040
cycling.
251
00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:04,480
In the past decade 43 percent of workers
252
00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:06,280
have chosen to cycle to work
253
00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:12,800
and green initiatives have paid 400,000
workers to ditch their cars for bikes.
254
00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:18,800
Today, miles of dedicated cycle routes
mark the landscape,
255
00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:22,600
such as the stunning cycling
through water project in Limburg.
256
00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:29,080
In Flanders, amateurs gather
every year for a cycle event
257
00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:32,320
that takes in some of the most
remarkable routes in the region.
258
00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:36,240
And there's one spectacle
here in the autumn,
259
00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:38,400
that has to be seen to be believed.
260
00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:45,280
The city of Ghent
is the third largest city in the nation.
261
00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:49,960
It holds a strategic position
along the Leese and Schelde rivers.
262
00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:52,400
Pushing through the clouds
263
00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:57,120
its ports suddenly appears
grasping the northern suburbs
264
00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:01,280
like a claw connecting the city
to the country's web of canals.
265
00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:03,880
And to the south,
266
00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:08,560
the densely packed historic center
is home to a unique aerial site.
267
00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:16,160
It's right here that artists
from all over Europe
268
00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:21,080
gather to dress the historic streets
with stunning displays of colored lights.
269
00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:25,040
The Ghent Light Festival.
270
00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:29,680
It's one of the largest
light festivals in Europe
271
00:22:29,960 --> 00:22:32,720
and only takes place
once every three years.
272
00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:38,600
In a few days, 36 light art installations
273
00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:42,240
will line a 7.4 kilometer route
that takes in some
274
00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:44,880
of the most iconic sights of the city.
275
00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:49,160
From the 700 year old
Saint Nicholas Church,
276
00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:53,080
to the picturesque quay of Korenlei.
277
00:22:54,920 --> 00:22:57,040
Artists are racing against time
278
00:22:57,280 --> 00:23:01,080
to set up astonishing displays
that will reveal the hidden beauty
279
00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:04,400
of medieval Europe's second biggest city.
280
00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:14,480
Fernando is part
of Luminaria de Canya,
281
00:23:14,560 --> 00:23:16,520
an Italian family business.
282
00:23:17,360 --> 00:23:18,440
This year,
283
00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:21,720
Fernando's display
is a cathedral shaped frame
284
00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:25,560
adorned with over 78,000 LED lights.
285
00:23:27,840 --> 00:23:30,360
{\an8}For me, the lights are more
of a passion than a job.
286
00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:33,320
{\an8}They excite me very, very much.
287
00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:41,880
It's a monumental structure
19 meters high,
288
00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:45,360
40 meters long and 11 meters wide.
289
00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:53,000
Nine kilometers of wires secure
the LED lights in place.
290
00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:02,720
They're four days into the job
and have less than a week to finish it.
291
00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:08,520
If the autumn rains arrive
they'll have to down tools.
292
00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:14,200
There is always a bit of a worry
that it rains for a week continuously
293
00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:16,360
or some sort of catastrophe.
294
00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:20,360
Until it is turned on
there is always anxiety in this job.
295
00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:35,760
Five busy days later,
the light festival opens
296
00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:38,000
and Fernando's Cathedral of Light
297
00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:41,400
undergoes an astonishing
aerial transformation.
298
00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:52,080
Tens of thousands of LED lights shine
299
00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:57,400
bright in a rainbow rooftop
of sparkling technicolor.
300
00:25:01,880 --> 00:25:06,120
Across the center,
a unique arrangement of LED lights appear
301
00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:08,680
to set St. Nicholas Church ablaze.
302
00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:17,360
An illuminated 140 kilogram moon
watches over the Korenlei Quay.
303
00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:22,080
The Vlasmarkt explodes
into a million different hues
304
00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:29,200
and the Fluvius Factory site
turns into a kaleidoscope of patterns.
305
00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:36,840
The Cathedral of Light
is the brightest display of all.
306
00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:42,520
It glows against the dark autumnal
night dazzling visitors.
307
00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:49,120
My favorite installation
is definitely the Cathedral of Light.
308
00:25:49,680 --> 00:25:52,240
{\an8}I think it's fabulous
and definitely the reason
309
00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:55,640
{\an8}that I came out this evening to see it.
310
00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:10,280
Autumn provides the perfect
backdrop for day trippers
311
00:26:10,360 --> 00:26:12,960
to explore Belgians historic cities.
312
00:26:13,480 --> 00:26:17,120
The capital, Brussels, dates back to 979
313
00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:19,880
when settlers laid the first stone down.
314
00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:25,360
It became the capital in 1831,
a year after the country's founding.
315
00:26:26,120 --> 00:26:27,840
One of the oldest buildings
316
00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:30,880
is the Cathedral
of St. Michele and St. Gudula,
317
00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:33,240
which took three centuries to build.
318
00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:38,760
But there's another church
that dwarfs this cathedral in size.
319
00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:47,280
Viewed from above,
Brussels is a historic city
320
00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:50,320
with thousands of compact
medieval streets.
321
00:26:51,360 --> 00:26:57,240
Pushing closer in reveals
a strange key hole shaped patch of green
322
00:26:57,560 --> 00:27:00,200
that breaks up the tightknit
grid of streets.
323
00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:13,800
This is the Basilica
of the Sacred Heart in Brussels.
324
00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:19,520
This colossal church
is the fifth largest in the world.
325
00:27:24,520 --> 00:27:27,080
It's also home to a remarkable society
326
00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:29,680
that has nothing to do
with church matters.
327
00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:41,000
Camille Castelet is part
of a caving club that uses the buildings
328
00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:44,520
spacious crypt to practice,
climbing with harnesses.
329
00:27:45,560 --> 00:27:48,200
In return, the club regularly abseils
330
00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:51,840
along the rooftops of the church
to inspect their condition.
331
00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:56,320
{\an8}You have a view of the whole of Brussels.
It's amazing.
332
00:27:56,520 --> 00:27:59,880
{\an8}And there's the adrenaline rush too
of being so high up.
333
00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:07,680
It's a chilly autumn morning,
and the cavers need
334
00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:11,680
to inspect the Basilica walls
for cracks and clear the gutters.
335
00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:16,800
Using their caving skills,
they crawl over the building's
336
00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:20,680
giant domes and towers
looking like tiny spiders.
337
00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:26,040
And beyond them the whole of Brussels
stretches out like a map.
338
00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:37,520
The Basilica's roots
go back to the 19th century,
339
00:28:38,120 --> 00:28:42,920
and King Leopold I's plans for
turning this area into a royal district.
340
00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:46,400
But he never lived to see
his vision realized.
341
00:28:49,120 --> 00:28:50,720
Its clean, sharp angles
342
00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:53,640
make it the largest
art deco building in the world.
343
00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:02,160
It takes the team three hours
to inspect the roof.
344
00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:06,800
Yet this is only half
of their job for today.
345
00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:23,680
One of the climbers cleans
the tiles inside the dome,
346
00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:26,760
43 meters above the ground.
347
00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:36,960
An hour later, the team is done.
348
00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:41,880
This remarkable quid pro quo
between the church and the caving team
349
00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:45,280
has helped to preserve
this record breaking building
350
00:29:45,680 --> 00:29:46,920
for another year.
351
00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:51,560
Being able to help get
rid of leaves from the gutters
352
00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:54,560
is just small things,
but they mean that the building
353
00:29:54,640 --> 00:29:56,760
is maintained and can last over time.
354
00:29:57,320 --> 00:29:59,200
I could do for another 10 years.
355
00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:00,440
I love it.
356
00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:16,800
The warm autumn sun
provides the perfect climate
357
00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:18,800
for Belgians to visit places like
358
00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:22,120
the seven hidden trolls
in De Schorre park,
359
00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:26,160
where wooden sculptures
rise up to 18 meters high.
360
00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:30,640
And the medieval city of Durbuy
361
00:30:30,720 --> 00:30:35,720
has been proclaimed the smallest city
in the world by the locals.
362
00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:41,760
Here, kayakers take advantage
of the still warm temperatures
363
00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:43,360
for a final day of canoeing.
364
00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:48,080
Autumn also signals the last opportunity
365
00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:51,320
to visit one of the region's
most gigantic attractions.
366
00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:03,880
Durbuy sits on the edge
of Belgium's famous Ardennes region.
367
00:31:05,120 --> 00:31:06,320
Zooming in
368
00:31:07,920 --> 00:31:12,240
reveals an incredible aerial pattern
at odds with its surroundings.
369
00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:23,720
This is
the Labyrinthe de Barvaux.
370
00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:29,440
It's the country's
biggest natural Labyrinth
371
00:31:30,040 --> 00:31:31,560
and one of the largest in Europe.
372
00:31:33,520 --> 00:31:38,840
It stretches out over 11 hectares,
larger than 17 football pitches.
373
00:31:41,080 --> 00:31:45,280
And its walls are made entirely
from 600,000 corn plants
374
00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:47,720
that soar up to three meters high.
375
00:31:52,200 --> 00:31:54,480
Fabienne Delvaux has been tending
376
00:31:54,560 --> 00:31:58,120
to the labyrinths day to day needs
for 24 years.
377
00:31:59,960 --> 00:32:02,440
The labyrinth
really is a passion.
378
00:32:02,760 --> 00:32:05,120
{\an8}We eat labyrinth, we sleep labyrinth.
379
00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:06,920
{\an8}We think about the labyrinth.
380
00:32:07,320 --> 00:32:08,960
{\an8}It takes up all our days.
381
00:32:09,200 --> 00:32:10,200
It's our whole life.
382
00:32:12,520 --> 00:32:14,680
Every summer, it opens its doors
383
00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:18,000
to young and old visitors
who lose their bearings
384
00:32:18,080 --> 00:32:21,480
in the gigantic corn stalks
trying to navigate to the middle.
385
00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:27,840
But all good things must come to an end.
386
00:32:29,680 --> 00:32:34,080
The maze stays open for just
13 short weeks before the corn ripens.
387
00:32:36,760 --> 00:32:41,360
The plant stems die and the labyrinth
must close for another year.
388
00:32:42,880 --> 00:32:46,640
For Fabienne and her team,
this natural transformation
389
00:32:46,920 --> 00:32:50,280
is an opportunity to erase
the old and plan for the new.
390
00:32:56,200 --> 00:32:57,960
A team of two harvesters
391
00:32:58,320 --> 00:33:03,160
bulldoze their way through the cornfields
tearing down the gigantic stalks.
392
00:33:09,920 --> 00:33:12,920
From above,
it appears like an industrial ballet
393
00:33:13,040 --> 00:33:16,960
as the machines slowly munch
through the labyrinth's graceful curves.
394
00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:24,280
The corn is given to the cows
that produce milk for the region.
395
00:33:34,960 --> 00:33:38,440
The labyrinth is so vast
it takes the twin harvesters
396
00:33:38,520 --> 00:33:42,040
more than six hours to plough
their way through the corn stalks.
397
00:33:43,000 --> 00:33:46,280
And at this time of year,
that means working into darkness.
398
00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:57,720
By next morning,
the labyrinth has completely vanished.
399
00:34:02,360 --> 00:34:05,880
For Fabienne,
the empty field is far from a sad sight.
400
00:34:06,200 --> 00:34:08,960
It's a blank canvas
that can be re-imagined.
401
00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:16,160
Each year brings a unique new design,
and planning for that starts right now.
402
00:34:19,160 --> 00:34:22,360
To me, the ephemeral side of it
is the motivation.
403
00:34:22,960 --> 00:34:25,000
We welcome the visitors with a new design,
404
00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:26,560
then summer ends.
405
00:34:27,200 --> 00:34:29,640
We harvest corn
and have a blank page again
406
00:34:30,040 --> 00:34:32,680
to start a new story,
the following summer.
407
00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:51,240
As temperatures drop,
iconic sites around the nation's capital
408
00:34:51,600 --> 00:34:53,640
are covered by a silky white layer.
409
00:34:57,520 --> 00:35:02,040
And in the parks a carpet of snow
attracts young children with their sleds.
410
00:35:04,760 --> 00:35:06,480
Winter is here.
411
00:35:11,720 --> 00:35:16,080
Prior to its independence in 1830,
Belgium was a volatile region,
412
00:35:16,920 --> 00:35:21,840
fought over by empires like Spain,
the Austrian Habsburgs and France.
413
00:35:23,840 --> 00:35:26,040
This small nation boasts
the greatest number
414
00:35:26,120 --> 00:35:28,520
of castles per square meter in the world.
415
00:35:30,520 --> 00:35:35,240
But not all of Belgium's ancient
structures represented power and control.
416
00:35:39,840 --> 00:35:43,880
Belgium is home to a number
of medieval abbeys and monasteries
417
00:35:44,160 --> 00:35:46,280
dotted all around the small country.
418
00:35:47,080 --> 00:35:49,960
But one just south of Brussels
stands apart.
419
00:35:51,040 --> 00:35:52,040
A closer look
420
00:35:53,400 --> 00:35:57,400
reveals a vast, sprawling ruin
surrounded by trees.
421
00:36:06,520 --> 00:36:08,160
This is Villers Abbey,
422
00:36:09,440 --> 00:36:11,760
one of Europe's largest abbey ruins.
423
00:36:14,560 --> 00:36:17,080
This monster-sized Cistercian abbey
424
00:36:17,400 --> 00:36:21,680
was founded in 1146
by a small group of 17 monks.
425
00:36:23,720 --> 00:36:27,720
At its peak, it housed 400 monks
and its grounds
426
00:36:27,800 --> 00:36:32,720
stretched across an area of almost
10,000 hectares as far as Antwerp.
427
00:36:37,120 --> 00:36:40,720
The centerpiece is a majestic
94 meter long church
428
00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:42,960
with round windows called oculi.
429
00:36:46,320 --> 00:36:50,280
These sprawling grounds also contain
a restored watermill,
430
00:36:51,960 --> 00:36:55,800
a prison, and even a brewery.
431
00:36:56,760 --> 00:37:00,920
Today, the abbey makes the same
medieval beer that it once used to brew.
432
00:37:03,720 --> 00:37:05,440
Sacked and left in ruins,
433
00:37:05,920 --> 00:37:09,920
the abbey has lain abandoned
for over 225 years.
434
00:37:12,640 --> 00:37:15,880
Now, a conservation project
is changing all that.
435
00:37:22,280 --> 00:37:25,560
An initiative spearheaded
by historian Anne Burette,
436
00:37:26,080 --> 00:37:28,320
is breathing life back into the abbey.
437
00:37:29,080 --> 00:37:33,160
This site is exceptional for Belgium
because the abbey is in ruins,
438
00:37:33,600 --> 00:37:35,560
but all the buildings are still present.
439
00:37:36,360 --> 00:37:39,560
{\an8}The monks occupied this place
for 650 years
440
00:37:39,840 --> 00:37:43,040
{\an8}and so there is also a certain atmosphere.
441
00:37:45,080 --> 00:37:47,920
Anne's work preserves
all aspects of the abbey,
442
00:37:48,080 --> 00:37:50,120
including the revamped gardens.
443
00:37:54,240 --> 00:37:57,080
Today, Anne and her team
are planting seedlings
444
00:37:57,160 --> 00:37:59,520
in the herb garden
in preparation for spring.
445
00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:04,160
The plants in this garden
are medieval herbs,
446
00:38:04,440 --> 00:38:07,640
just like the ones monks
planted for medicinal purposes.
447
00:38:10,920 --> 00:38:14,160
The abbey first fell into decline
in the 16th century
448
00:38:14,600 --> 00:38:17,080
when the region was caught up
in conflict with Spain.
449
00:38:19,520 --> 00:38:21,760
It then fell victim
to the French Revolution,
450
00:38:22,560 --> 00:38:25,080
which suppressed the church
across western Europe
451
00:38:25,520 --> 00:38:27,440
and left the abbey completely abandoned.
452
00:38:31,280 --> 00:38:32,960
And in the 19th century,
453
00:38:33,400 --> 00:38:37,720
the ruins the revolution left behind
inspired Victor Hugo
454
00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:40,680
to write his famous book Les Miserables.
455
00:38:51,080 --> 00:38:54,440
In the gardens,
Anne plants the last of the seedlings.
456
00:38:59,000 --> 00:39:01,520
In just a few weeks, these sleepy ruins
457
00:39:01,600 --> 00:39:05,960
will explode with colors and perfumes
again for visitors to enjoy.
458
00:39:09,880 --> 00:39:11,880
The abbey always impresses me.
459
00:39:12,360 --> 00:39:17,720
It changes every season, every day,
so it's always a renewal or rediscovery.
460
00:39:18,320 --> 00:39:21,320
And it's such a beautiful sight
that you never get tired of it.
461
00:39:31,040 --> 00:39:33,080
As colder temperatures set in,
462
00:39:33,320 --> 00:39:37,720
Belgium's hilly southern forests
see a white blanket of snow.
463
00:39:38,760 --> 00:39:43,640
And in the towns the onset of winter
is the signal for Christmas celebrations.
464
00:39:44,600 --> 00:39:48,000
With its medieval architecture,
Belgium is tailor-made
465
00:39:48,080 --> 00:39:51,120
for Christmas markets
straight out of a fairy tale.
466
00:39:52,120 --> 00:39:55,000
And one city is perhaps
the most festive of all.
467
00:40:02,280 --> 00:40:03,880
In Belgium's north west
468
00:40:04,360 --> 00:40:06,840
{\an8}lies the historic city of Bruges.
469
00:40:07,960 --> 00:40:09,680
{\an8}It's situated inland,
470
00:40:10,120 --> 00:40:14,480
{\an8}but is connected to the coastline
via the perfectly straight 12 kilometer
471
00:40:14,560 --> 00:40:16,480
Boudewijn waterway.
472
00:40:17,240 --> 00:40:18,840
Pushing through the clouds
473
00:40:20,320 --> 00:40:22,840
reveals its egg shaped historic center
474
00:40:23,280 --> 00:40:26,760
almost entirely surrounded
by a ring road of canals.
475
00:40:33,880 --> 00:40:36,600
Today, it's known
as the Venice of the north.
476
00:40:38,960 --> 00:40:40,360
These inner canals
477
00:40:40,440 --> 00:40:43,160
were once part of Bruges old ramparts
478
00:40:44,040 --> 00:40:46,080
and one of the best ways to appreciate
479
00:40:46,160 --> 00:40:50,520
the city's connection to water
and its medieval past is by boat.
480
00:40:58,280 --> 00:41:03,320
It's Captain Leslie Maes's job
to make sure the city's ancient arteries
481
00:41:03,560 --> 00:41:05,520
are clear of rubbish and blockages.
482
00:41:06,640 --> 00:41:10,760
This is particularly important
at Christmas when tourists descend
483
00:41:10,840 --> 00:41:13,400
on the city's waterways
for late night shopping.
484
00:41:15,200 --> 00:41:18,280
{\an8}Oh yes, we've taken a lot of things
out of the water already.
485
00:41:18,800 --> 00:41:22,000
Yeah, a washing machine,
a microwave, even bicycles.
486
00:41:22,240 --> 00:41:25,200
Every year we take about
four or five bikes out of the water.
487
00:41:30,600 --> 00:41:32,480
Today, Captain Leslie
488
00:41:32,560 --> 00:41:36,160
has four hours before sunset
to clear the innermost canal
489
00:41:36,440 --> 00:41:38,360
before the Christmas shoppers arrive.
490
00:41:40,360 --> 00:41:43,320
The Captain's route takes him past
the Burgher's Lodge.
491
00:41:44,480 --> 00:41:48,600
Here, Bruges' trade reached
its zenith in the 14th century
492
00:41:49,040 --> 00:41:53,520
when goods linked to brewing and textiles
could be transported far and wide
493
00:41:54,080 --> 00:41:55,840
by the newly built canals.
494
00:41:57,760 --> 00:42:00,680
Next, he navigates through
the Quay of the Rosary.
495
00:42:02,160 --> 00:42:03,160
In the middle ages,
496
00:42:03,280 --> 00:42:07,040
this was a mooring station
for trading the prized commodity of salt.
497
00:42:08,560 --> 00:42:09,800
It was vitally important
498
00:42:10,120 --> 00:42:11,840
because it was used to preserve food.
499
00:42:14,320 --> 00:42:16,200
The Captain now has to tackle
500
00:42:16,280 --> 00:42:20,400
the narrowest section of his route,
the Bonifacius Bridge.
501
00:42:26,160 --> 00:42:29,440
But it's the church of our lady that
dominates the surroundings,
502
00:42:30,080 --> 00:42:32,560
rising to 122 meters,
503
00:42:33,040 --> 00:42:35,160
making it the highest point in the city.
504
00:42:38,960 --> 00:42:45,680
As night descends, the city sparkles
to life with hundreds of Christmas lights.
505
00:42:48,640 --> 00:42:52,880
And places like the Quay of the Rosary
light up as if in a fairy tale.
506
00:42:56,520 --> 00:43:00,600
Captain Leslie makes one final check
that the canal is spotless,
507
00:43:01,360 --> 00:43:03,680
just in time for the winter glow festival
508
00:43:04,120 --> 00:43:07,120
to project artworks
onto the canal side buildings.
509
00:43:12,120 --> 00:43:15,640
Once his job is finished,
Leslie can finally relax
510
00:43:15,720 --> 00:43:19,800
and enjoy a drink with his daughter
in the city's Christmas market.
511
00:43:22,120 --> 00:43:23,640
It's lovely in the dark.
512
00:43:23,800 --> 00:43:26,480
I say isn't Bruges just beautiful?
513
00:43:27,040 --> 00:43:28,320
I just love my job.
514
00:43:28,880 --> 00:43:29,880
Time flies by.
515
00:43:42,160 --> 00:43:46,040
{\an8}In this small coastal country,
history and tradition
516
00:43:46,600 --> 00:43:50,040
{\an8}meets dynamic ingenuity to create a nation
517
00:43:50,280 --> 00:43:52,800
{\an8}that has overcome its demanding landscape.
518
00:43:53,560 --> 00:43:57,640
{\an8}From the political center of Europe
to its rural communities,
519
00:43:58,120 --> 00:44:03,840
{\an8}the citizens of Belgium come together
to create the proud nation we see today.