Not to be missed in 2010 !
This allows you to:
Not to be missed in 2009 !
- The New Grand-Place of Brussels (inauguration 12 th of May)
(see pictures of the Maxi party 20th anniversary below)
- The Centre G. Pompidou (Beaubourg) in Paris (inauguration 12 th of May) : complete renovation
- The Villa Rotonda (Vicenze) : complete renovation
Maxi party to celebrate Mini-Europe's 20th anniversary (in picture):
Louis Michel
Thierry Meeùs, Managing Director of Mini-Europe Benoît Cerexhe (Minister), Louis Michel (European Commissioner),
and Herman Van Rompuy (CD&V), Prime Minister of Belgium Guy Vanhengel (Minister)
The Marvellous new Mini "Grand Place"
In backplace, the Ambassadors and representative from Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia,
Hungaria, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Tchek Republik, The Netherland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain.
In Backplace , Jean-Pierre Bruneau (Gastronomic Chief), Louis Michel(MR), Guy Vanhengel (VLD), Benoît Cerexhe(CDH),
Gerald Watelet (Haute Couture), Joëlle Milcquet (CDH)
José Géal (Toone VII) Virginie Claes (Miss Belgium 2006) Gerald Watelet (Haute Couture)
Pierre Coenegrachts (OPT) and Marc Herman (Humorist) The Birthday Cake
Christian Ceux (CDH) Echevin from Brussels City Jos Chabert (Member of the Brussels Parliament)
André Vrijdagh (Brussels International)
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MAGDEBURG (MILLENNIUM TOWER) The
The Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, meeting its status of European capital, decided to celebrate Europe all year round thus reconciling Brussels with the European Union. It was therefore natural for Charles Picqué and Guy Vanhengel, respectively Minister-President and Minister of External Relations of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region, to support the European week of Brussels school pupils. During this week, organised at the initiative of Mini-Europe from 23rd April to 27th April, over 10.000 Brussels primary school pupils of the 5th and 6th
grades are invited to visit the miniature park with the aim of raising their awareness of the various facets of the European Union. The astronomical clock on PRAGUE’s Old Town Hall indicates local time, Sumerian time (divided into 12 parts between sunrise and sunset), ‘Italian hours’ (from 0 to 23), the astronomical position of the earth and planets, and the calendar. It was built in 1410 by the clockmaker Mikuláš of Kadaò and Professor Jan Šindel. The calendar was added in 1490, the moving statues in the 17th century and the Apostles in 1895.
Both the town hall and the clock were heavily damaged during World War II. (Tip) : Death (the skeleton) tolls the bell every hour to alert the Turk, who shakes his head, while the Miser holds on to his sack of gold and Vanity admires himself in the mirror. Monument offered by the
THE
(Tip) : The façade takes up the theme of St. Elisabeth and the roses, which appear abundantly on both the exterior and interior.
Vilnius (July)
The University was founded by the Jesuits in 1579 in the centre of the Old
(Tip) The Astronomical Observatory was founded by Elzbieta Puzynowa in 1753 and was the fourth Observatory in
"Monument given by the Lithuanian government"
News in 2004-2005
Not to be missed in 2008 !
Slovenia : the three bridges of
Bulgaria: the Rila Monastery (22/05/2008).
Hungary : the Széchenyi Baths of
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Airbus A380
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News 2007:
MINI-EUROPE WELCOMED Romania the 12th July 2007 with the replica of
The Berlaymont model (23/04/2007)
The new replica Berlaymont was inaugurated by the Vice-President of 
the European Commission, Mr. Siim Kallas, who declared
“The Representation of the European Commission in Belgium is pleased to offer Mini-Europe a model of the flagship building of the European Commission, the renovated Berlaymont. Located at the park’s entrance, the Berlaymont symbolizes the European dimension of the concept".
The replica of the Jean Monnet House (23/04/2007)
The idea, which would later grow into the concept of the European Union, was first conceived at this 
house with its thatched roof. From the end of the Second World War until his death in 1979, Jean Monnet lived and worked in this house, where he hosted some of the most distinguished dignitaries of his time (Schuman, Eisenhower, Spaak, Adenauer, Heath, etc). From mid-April to 6 May 1950, working as a small team, he drafted the founding declaration, presented by Robert Schuman on 9 May that same year. By reproducing it alongside Berlaymont, Mini-Europe does history justice.
The European week of Brussels school pupils (23/04/2007)
News in 2006.
Prague (end of april, begin of May)
Bratislava (end of May, begin of June) 
main style of this beautiful ensemble whose 6 of the 13 Courtyards are represented here. The magnificent Grand Courtyard combines three styles: Renaissance mannerism, Baroque and Classicism. The baroque Observatory Courtyard shows the signs of the Zodiac and Latin inscriptions.
Poland in Mini-Europe
Gdansk :
The final choice was Arthus Court, Neptune’s fountain and the Memorial to the naval dockyard 
workers killed in 1970 (Three Crosses monument).
This choice is really interesting for visitors to Mini-Europe.
Arthus Court bears witness to Gdansk’s rich past - its commercial past, Hanseatic past and its economic motor in Poland. The architectural style, its architect and the symbols used call to mind the links between this town – and Poland – with the rest of Europe. (See below).
Neptune’s fountain. The roman god of the sea calls to mind the importance of commerce in the Baltic Sea and economic changes.
Memorial to the naval dockyard workers killed in 1970 (or three crosses monument).
This recent monument calls to mind the social struggles of 1970, 1976 and 1980. In 1980, the union’s struggle had Lech Walesa (Nobel prize in 1983 and Polish president in 1990) and the Solidarnosc movement as its figureheads.
These movements were the basis of union recognition in Poland and quickly brought about the collapse of the communist system in Poland, the fall of the Berlin wall and subsequently growth of the EU.
A rich past, a passage to modernity, a desire for European integration; this is the message conveyed by Gdansk’s monuments.
Cyprus in Mini-Europe
Limassol :
For Cyprus, we fixed our choice on the Kourion Theatre
The Kourion theatre was built by the Greeks in the 2nd century B.C. and modified by the Romans in the 2nd century A.D. Remodelled in its current dimensions, it can accommodate 3,500 spectators. During the 3rd century, it was converted for the wild beast hunting spectacles. The archway in the centre of the auditorium served as a shelter for the hunters. Toward the end of the 3rd century, the theatre resumed its function until it fell into disuse in the 4th century. The theatre was looted of numerous stone blocks.
In the course of the restoration, the theatre is catering to spectacles once again.
Kourion was one of the 12 kingdoms of Ancient Cyprus.
Estonia in Mini-Europe
Tallinn :
The part of the medieval wall of Tallinn, represented here at Mini-Europe, relates to the old part of Tallinn, a preserved and charming part of Europe. The tower of Artillery was added later and named “Paks Margareeta” or the fat daisy in reference to the queen of Denmark.
Latvia in Mini-Europe
Riga :
The monument of Liberty, designed by Karlis Zale and built in 1935, evoke the classical 
values of Europe: freedom (at the top of the monument), family, spiritual strength, national strength, work. This monument also depicts a number of important moments in Latvian history.
The monument of Liberty of Riga recalls the recent independence of Latvia and Estonia at the start of the 20th century. This independence, quickly disturbed by the Second World War, was regained in 1991 with the break from the Soviet block.
Malta in Mini-Europe
The Tempels of Mnajdra
Mini-Europe welcomes Malta and the Temples of Mnajdra
This temple was built in 3.400 BC, 800 years before the great pyramid of Gizeh or Stonehenge. Mnajdra and the other Maltese
temples may therefore be considered as the
oldest stone temples in the world.
