Comic Book Route Murals

The Comic Book Route is a self-guided trail of large comic-strip murals painted on building walls across central Brussels, Belgium, celebrating the city's Belgian comics heritage, with characters such as Tintin and others from the local tradition. Rue du Marché au Charbon is one convenient starting point, and the murals are scattered over the central districts, so the frame varies from wall to wall: typically a tall painted facade rising above a narrow street, with the building edges and street furniture as foreground. Because many walls sit in narrow streets, a wide-angle lens helps capture the full height, and shooting at an angle avoids distortion from standing too close. Daylight is the practical choice, and overcast conditions give even light with fewer harsh shadows crossing the paintings, while bright sun can wash out colours on sun-facing walls and cast shadows from neighbouring buildings. Morning light suits walls facing east, and afternoon light suits those facing west, so planning the route by orientation improves results. The murals can be photographed year-round, though spring to autumn is more pleasant for walking. Most murals are in public streets, so foot traffic is typical rather than crowded, and obstruction by parked cars, scooters or street furniture is a more common problem than crowds. Tripods are rarely necessary in daylight and can obstruct pavements. No fee applies to viewing the murals from the street. Drones are heavily restricted in central Brussels and should not be used. A tourist office or the city's published map can help locate individual murals, and cafés and toilets are found throughout the central streets. The route involves walking on level pavements with occasional cobbled sections.