Bruges: Belgium's Historical Gem
Finest Medieval Art, Architecture and Ambience in Northern Europe
Founded in the 9th Century by Vikings, Bruges ranks as Northern Europe's finest Medieval city, with picture-postcard views around every turn of its cobblestone streets.
Swans swim in its canals. Crooked cobblestone streets meander past guildhalls and gabled merchants' houses. Small squares beckon with statues, benches and flower beds. Churches are filled with Flemish art treasures. Shops brim with engravings, chocolates and lace.
History's Passing Parade
Eighty-nine kilometers (about 54 miles) northwest of Brussels and a mere 14 kilometers (about nine miles) from the North Sea, Bruges was founded in the 9th Century by Vikings. A city of statues, spires and steeples, its attractions include more than 50 historic buildings – including its 15th-century town hall. Four abbeys and at least two-weeks’ worth of museums insure that visitors won’t soon run out of sights to see.
If you are serious about learning the buildings’ histories, hire an English-speaking guide to show you around (guided walks are conducted throughout the year). If you don't care about the details, just meander past the gabled roof buildings and neatly-trimmed gardens lining the streets in the old part of the city; enjoying the classic architecture.
Museum Menu
The Mechanical Music Museum, a long narrow building between Zwlinstraat and the Zand, highlights music boxes, street organs, orchestrions and other mechanical instruments from 1820 to 1940 (open 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. daily).
For miniature performances of famous operas, it's the Bruges Puppet Theatre during May, June and September. There’s also the municipal Lace Museum, as well as lace shops nearby where classes are held and lace-making demonstrations presented. Museums devoted to archaeology, ship models, fine art and folklore are among other popular repositories of memorabilia from the area’s past.
City Centerpiece
Centerpiece of Bruges may be the gothic Town Hall which , along with the Basilica and other elegant buildings, looks onto a small square. But, but the city’s heart is Market Square. Surrounded by more architectural treasures, the square is at its best on Wednesday, market day. Any day, however, it’s a delight and a great place to buy frites (French fries) from one of the vendors.
When your feet tire from treading the cobblestones, you can take a boat trip along the city's canals or rent a bicycle at the railway station, or at the tourist office where you can also get cycling path maps and brochures. For a more romantic ride, horse-drawn cabs depart regularly from the main square. And don’t forget to go out walking at night, when the city’s medieval buildings and canals are illuminated. Though the walk won’t cost any money, you’ll gather memories that money can’t buy.
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