A Flemish city in Belgium – Brugge

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Globe Runner

BRUGGE, BELGIUM: Brugge is the 2^nd most visited city of Belgium after Brussels. We really didn’t see the charming side of Brugge in our first short visit of the city. But this time it was a great day-trip and saw a lot more than the last time. It is a Flemish city of Belgium and a nice one too. It is very similar to Gent (another Flemish city in Belgium and my most favorite one among all the Belgian cities I’ve been to so far) with old guild houses, small canals, old town etc.

: Old town of Brugge, Belgium

TIME OF TRAVELING: My uncle-in-law was in town in the 1^st week of September, 2012. He has been in Europe many times for his work purposes. He lived in the Netherlands for 2 years and visited Brugge from there few times before. So, he wanted to visit the city again and walk down the memory lane while visiting us in Belgium. It was less than an hour drive from our place and made a great day-trip for us all. The sky was blue and clear and the weather was sunny and golden…just perfect to have some quality family time.

: Walking around Brugge, Belgium

WHAT TO BUY AND EAT IN BRUGGE: Belgian chocolates, tapestries, and laces are famous world-wide and Brugge has tons of stores selling these items. For a meal or drink cafes in Grote Markt is a nice place. We had lunch in one of the Italian restaurants there which also sells traditional Flemish dishes.

PLACES WE’VE VISITED: We spent about a whole day in Brugge. We really didn’t research on Brugge before going there. We just enjoyed and visited the place as they came along during our walk.

: Beautiful Brugge, Belgium

1) SINT SALVATORSKATHEDRAAL: We entered this church without knowing much about it and just by looking at its grand outlook. It is free to enter the cathedral. It’s a big church with nicely decorated high altar, many over-sized old paintings, colorful stained-glass windows, beautiful Belgian tapestries, and detailed wood and marble carvings. The cathedral houses mausoleums of several saints from the late 1600s. Many well-to-do class citizens, the nobles, and the clergymen who could afford it have their resting-place inside the church. There are different types of stones from different places, like East Flanders, Brabant, Germany, and France, which were used to build this cathedral. The oldest bricks, from the 14^th century, were made in the brickyards which were situated around Brugge.

: High altar of Sint Salvatorskathedraal in Brugge, Belgium

2) GROTE MARKT: This is something similar to Brussels Grand Place/Grote Markt, may be a bit bigger square and has a statue in the middle of it. You will see all the cafes and restaurants lined up in one side of the market place with typical Flemish style guild houses. The old post office is also located here (orange and beige building) at one side of Belfry. This is also a good place to hire a horse-wagon ride to get a tour of the historic places of the city. It is a great place to just chill and enjoy the surrounding old architectures.

: Typical Flemish style buildings and cafes in Grote Markt, Brugge, Belgium

Belfry in Grote Markt is part of an impressive 13^th century building. In the Middle Ages the hall was used for storing and displaying different goods. The top, octagonal lantern tower in Brabant limestone was built between 1482 and 1486. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site to mainly draw attention to the symbolic significance of the belfries as testimonials of the prosperous and autonomous late-medieval cities in the region. Visitors can go to inner courtyard that contains some temporary museums and occasional outdoor concerts. This 83-meter high tower can be accessed from 9:30 am to 4:15 pm everyday by paying 8 euros per adult and 4 euros for kids 6 – 15 years of age. There are 366 steps to climb to go on the top.

: Belfry of Grote Markt in Brugge, Belgium

3) DE BURG: De Burg is another little but beautiful square situated right beside Grote Markt or the Market Place. You can follow the narrow alley from Grote Markt on the left side when facing the Belfry. Brugge’s present City Hall and old city hall are both in this square. The architecture of old city hall and Basilica of the Holy Blood are simply beautiful. We didn’t go inside any of these buildings and not sure if the visitors are allowed to go in. There is a café here and some shops on the alley that connects De Burg and Grote Markt.

: Buildings in De Burg in Brugge, Belgium

4) BOAT RIDE: Boat ride in Brugge canals costs 7.60 euros per adult and 3.40 euros for kids for a 30-minutes ride. The captain gives English tour along with French and Dutch. The boat takes you thru the old multi-colored houses, cafes, and bridges. You also get to see the skinniest building of the city the ride and one of the most romantic hotels of Europe. The ride is very pleasant, educational, and entertaining for the kids too.

: Our boat ride in Brugge, Belgium

A Weekend Get-away in Brugge, Belgium (porterstakeduesseldorf.wordpress.com)
Brussels – Knokke – Brugge (elenakonkova.wordpress.com)
Brugge, Sept 15 and 16, 2010 (theinspiredpacker.wordpress.com)

Category: Europe, TripsTags: Belgium, education, Europe, Photography, Photos, tours, Travel, trips, World Heritage Site

4 Comments on “A Flemish city in Belgium – Brugge”

Gypsy Bev
September 13, 2012

What beautiful old architecture. Your pictures are fantastic!

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- Globe Runner
  September 13, 2012
  
  Thanks Bev, glad you enjoyed them….pleasure is all mine
  
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Geedebee
September 12, 2012

A year ago i had to make an assignment for my photo class. So i photographed the beguinage ” Begijnhof” in Brugges…here is the link to the pictures. Greatings!

http://twisindezak.com/2011/06/15/de-cursus-zit-er-op/

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- Globe Runner
  September 12, 2012
  
  Lovely pictures, I dont think we went to this place in Brugge. Thanks for sharing.
  
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