Bruges
Places of Interest
Built around a labyrinth of canals and famed for its beauty, Bruges is often proudly referred to as the ‘Venice of the North’. It’s a popular tourist destination among British travellers, due to its close proximity to the major port of Zeebrugge, and the cobbled streets are crowded all year round. The best way to explore it is on foot, wandering at a leisurely pace to admire the ornate brick buildings.
Be sure not to miss the two central squares, Markt and Burg. Surrounded by spectacular architecture, they’re always bustling with tourists. There are numerous terrace cafes and bars on Markt square where you can sit back and enjoy the views. Even better for admiring the Markt is the Belfort Tower overlooking the square, a 13th century tower with its winding staircase which is open to tourists. On the Burg square are some of the historically most important buildings in the city. The Heilig Bloed Basiliek contains one of the holiest relics in Christendom – a small bottle of blood, reputed to be that of Christ, brought back from Jerusalem during the Crusades. It is still paraded around the town in an ancient ceremony every Ascension Day. Next door to the small but important Church of the Holy Blood is the Stadhuis, the interior of which is as impressive as the exterior. The Gothic Hall is adorned with spectacular late 19th century friezes depicting medieval life in the city. Next door to the Stadhuis is the Renaissancezaal, which houses an imposing 16th century carved oak fireplace, which is ornately and intricately decorated with depictions of the Habsburgs who once ruled here.
Belgium is famed for its rich artistic heritage and there’s plenty of it to see in Bruges. The Groeninge Museum contains an impressive collection of fine art by the great artists such as Van Eyck, Jacob van Oost, Hieronymus Bosch, Rogier van der Weyden and Hugo van der Goes.
Be sure not to miss the two central squares, Markt and Burg. Surrounded by spectacular architecture, they’re always bustling with tourists. There are numerous terrace cafes and bars on Markt square where you can sit back and enjoy the views. Even better for admiring the Markt is the Belfort Tower overlooking the square, a 13th century tower with its winding staircase which is open to tourists. On the Burg square are some of the historically most important buildings in the city. The Heilig Bloed Basiliek contains one of the holiest relics in Christendom – a small bottle of blood, reputed to be that of Christ, brought back from Jerusalem during the Crusades. It is still paraded around the town in an ancient ceremony every Ascension Day. Next door to the small but important Church of the Holy Blood is the Stadhuis, the interior of which is as impressive as the exterior. The Gothic Hall is adorned with spectacular late 19th century friezes depicting medieval life in the city. Next door to the Stadhuis is the Renaissancezaal, which houses an imposing 16th century carved oak fireplace, which is ornately and intricately decorated with depictions of the Habsburgs who once ruled here.
Belgium is famed for its rich artistic heritage and there’s plenty of it to see in Bruges. The Groeninge Museum contains an impressive collection of fine art by the great artists such as Van Eyck, Jacob van Oost, Hieronymus Bosch, Rogier van der Weyden and Hugo van der Goes.