Royal Museum for Central Africa

Set in a grand palace within a landscaped park outside Brussels, this museum was founded to display the natural history and cultures of the Congo region during the Belgian colonial period. After a lengthy renovation it reopened with a reframed presentation confronting its colonial origins and the harm done under Belgian rule. Galleries cover African art, biodiversity, geology and history, with a vast collection of ethnographic objects and natural specimens. The ornate building and surrounding gardens remain a major draw in their own right.