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 Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 8:07 am Post subject: BELGIUM TOURISM GUIDE (BRUGES)/ TOURISM IN BELGIUM |
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BELGIUM TOURISM GUIDE (BRUGES)
GENERAL
Bruges is called : 'the Venice of the North'. This splendid medieval city is one of Belgium's crown jewels. In no other European city the feel and the look of medieval times are so present as here in this city close to the North Sea.
Today's Bruges has a population of about 45.000 people (the old centre) or 120.000 people (centre together with the suburbs). These numbers clearly show that Bruges is not a tiny miniature city. It ranks, even today, among the important cities of Belgium. It is also the capital of the Belgian province of West-Flanders. A lot of people take day-trips from Brussels to Bruges, but there is to much to see here to fill only 1 day. The best way to visit Bruges is to spend at least one night in one of the many beautiful and cozy hotels. Later in the evening, when all the tourists have gone, Bruges finds back its charm and quiet of old times. When one is lucky with the weather, a stroll through the tiny medieval streets can be an enchanting experience. Bruges is always beautiful, in the summertime as well as in the wintertime. Lucky visitors will never forget the city after they have seen it on a snowy December or January day.
Bruges is unique, in the sense that here the town authorities have done the utmost to preserve the medieval-looking image of the city. Of course, not every stone in Bruges has come straight from the Middle-Ages. The 19th century neo-gothic style is more present than one should think. Because of these 19th century renovations, some critics have put Bruges down as a 'fake' medieval city. Nevertheless, the combination of old, not so old and new fascinates everyone who first sets foot in Bruges.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
CANAL BOAT TRIPS
A genuine adventure, the visit to this unique town with its age-old houses and picturesque bridges by guided boat trip.
THE HOUSE BREWERY DE HALVE MAAN
The 'De halve Maan' family brewery (=The Half Moon) has been active since 1856. The cooking- and brewing cauldron, the cooler and the malt store were the authentic working instruments for the brewing of the 'Straffe Hendrik' beer.
GROTE MARKT
The central location of the Market square indicates that this was the medieval heart of the city. At least, the commercial medieval heart, because the centre of the city administration was found on the nearby 'Burg' square.
THE MINNEWATER
For most visitors the Minnewater and its lovely park are the entrance to the beautiful city of Bruges. The Minnewater is a canalized lake. From the bridge (1740) one can already enjoy a nice panoramic view over the town. Because of the idyllic surroundings it is mostly referred to as 'the lake of Love', the Dutch word 'Minne' meaning 'love'.
THE BEGUINAGE
Just behind the Minnewater lies the Beguinage 'De Wijngaard' (= the Vineyard). It is one of those typical areas in Bruges where one can find more peace and quiet than in the sometimes busy and overcrowded streets of the town centre.. The Beguinage is a group of houses around a little garden covered with large poplar trees. It was here that during the last seven centuries lived the beguines of Bruges. In 1937 the beguinage became a monastery for the Benedictine sisters who still live here now.
OUR LADY'S CHURCH
When approaching Bruges, one can already see from afar the highest tower in the city, the tower of Our Lady's Church. Although this church is not the most important one on the religious level (St Salvator's church is) it certainly attracts most visitors because of its medieval character and the important works of art that can be admired here.
ST SALVATOR CATHEDRAL
The city of Bruges has been beautifully preserved and charms its visitors by its medieval character. Of course, not every building has been left untouched through the course of the centuries. Very often the present buildings have undergone numerous changes and renovations throughout their history. One of the best examples is the main church of the city, namely St. Salvator's Cathedral. This church was not built to become the cathedral of the city. It rose to this status only in the 19th century.
ST JOHN'S HOSPITAL
In front of Our Lady's church stands the large complex of the medieval St. John's hospital, one of the oldest still existing hospitals in Europe. In 1978 it lost its function as hospital and harbours now the Memling museum, the hospital museum and the old pharmacy.
THE HOUSE OF GRUUTHUSE
The Gruuthuse house and museum is situated behind the Our Lady's church. This impressive city mansion belonged to one of the richest families of the medieval city. It has now been transformed into the archeological city museum of Bruges.
THE BELFRY
The Market square is dominated by the cloth hall and the 83 meter high Belfry tower, one of the symbols of the city. The original cloth hall and tower date from 1240.
BURG SQUARE
Bruges is a city with two town squares. The largest one is the Market, the commercial heart of medieval Bruges. The second square is called the 'Burg'. Here was, and still is, the heart of the administrative Bruges.
THE CHAPEL OF THE HOLY BLOOD
The chapel of the Holy Blood is actually a double chapel which can be visited on the 'Burg' square in Bruges. It was first constructed in the 12th century and promoted to the rank of Basilica in 1923. One can enter the church on the first floor where the Holy Blood is kept via the 'Steeghere' which is a beautifully decorated façade behind which a staircase leads to the first floor.
THE JERUSALEM CHURCH
The Jerusalem church has preserved its original style almost completely, which is quite rare in Belgium. Furthermore, the church is still privately owned. The church belonged to the Adornes family, a family of merchants who came from Genoa in Italy to the 13th century Bruges. Their descendants still own the Jerusalem church today.
THE GROENINGE MUSEUM
The Groeninge Museum is also called 'The city museum of Fine Arts'. The collection was already started in the beginning of the 18th century, but the building itself is recent and dates from 1929-1930. The name 'Groeninge' refers to the nearby 'Groeninge straat' (= Groeninge street), but also to the Groeninge fields in the city of Kortrijk (Courtrai) where in 1302 the army of the Flemish defeated the army of the French king. The collection in the museum spans several centuries (from the 14th to the 20th century) and focuses primarily on works by painters who lived and worked in Bruges.
THE BRANGWYN MUSEUM
The Arents House or Brangwyn Museum is a fine, late-18th-century townhouse located opposite the coach-house at the entrance to a picturesque garden.
The coach-house contains old carriages and sledges. The ground floor of the Arents House is home to the Lace Museum, with its extensive and varied collection of old needlepoint, bobbin and mixed lace.
BREWERY MUSEUM
Brewery De Gouden Boom, a brewery of such delicious beers as Brugs Tarwebier, Brugse Tripel and Abdij Steenbrugge. The Brewery Museum (entrance : Verbrand Nieuwland 10) is housed in a well preserved old malthouse (1902). All machines are still in place.
Interesting museum-collection about the 31 Bruges breweries which were still in operation at the turn of the century.
THE FOLKLORE MUSEUM
The 17th-century almshouses belonging to the Bruges cobblers' corporation evoke the atmosphere of bygone days. Historic objects are used to reconstruct a classroom, a cobbler's and a hatter's workshop, a Flemish living room, an old kitchen, a confectioner's and an old chemist.
The numerous folkloric exhibits include a large collection of pipes, examples of old costume and items relating to popular worship.
ST JANSHUIS MILL
Bruges' city walls were dotted with windmills from the late 13th century, when the outer defences were completed, until the 19th century. St Janshuis' mill, which dates from 1770, is the only one to survive in its original position.
The mill is usually in operation, and visitors can climb its steep staircase and visit the museum inside. |
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