Travel to Bruges, Belgium
Grote Market, Groeninge Museum and Moules Frites in Medieval Town
A look at the sightseeing, gastonomic and architectural highlights of medieval Bruges.
NOTHING is allowed to spoil the medieval perfection of Bruges - not even the horses pulling the buggies that take romantic types through the cobbled streets. They, you see, wear sacks around their hindquarters to catch their droppings, ensuring that Bruges remains immaculate – well, it’s just that sort of place.
This Belgian town has all the vital ingredients for a wonderfully romantic vacation and it's only a 30 minute train ride from the in iternational airport of Brussels.
Known as the ‘Venice of the North’ there are canals, medieval buildings and wonderfully special places like the Minnewater, or Lake of Love, where you and your loved one can sit and watch the monogamous swans while sipping a famed Belgian beer. There’s no shortage of wonderful watering holes and once inside you have a staggering choice of tipples – Belgium has more than 1,800 beers. Truth be told, you’ll lose count after the first half dozen on a trip to the Strauffe Hendrik brewery – a must on any visit to the town.
Although many towns make this claim, in Bruges it really is true – the city really does look pretty much the same as it did in the 14th century when it was one of Europe's most important cities. Then, its port had a busy trade of luxuries such as diamonds, leather and silk, but when silt blocked the ships' access in the Middle Ages, Bruges took a gentle step back. Today even its modern buildings join seamlessly with the old. If you appreciate architecture and Art, you’re going to love Bruges.
Food, Markets and Museums
For those feeling fit the clamber up the 366 steps of the belfry in the Grote Market square is worth a challenge. The belfry sounds a 47 bell carillon, or bell concert, several times during the day.
Feeling hungry? Bruges won't let you down, especially if you like mussels and chips. Moules frites is one of the national dishes and you won’t get it cheaper or better than here.
There are scores of wonderful restaurants serving all kinds of tasty menus. Local fayre dominates, but there are also Chinese, Japanese, Indian, French and fondue houses.
The restaurants overlooking the town's noisy and bustling fish market are definitely worth a special mention. But for a snack on the go it's hard to beat a waffle filled with something divine and wicked such as chocolate, caramel or cream, and eaten on the hoof. Not a place for diets, Belgium.
Don’t miss the Groeninge Museum which houses six centuries of Flemish, Dutch and Belgian painting, from Jan van Eyck to Marcel Broodthaers.
Also the Gruuthuse Museum – set in a 15th-century palace is a remarkable collection of applied art, featuring furniture, tapestries, musical instruments, paintings, silverware, tin, pottery and weapons from the 13th to the 19th centuries.
There are dozens of churches, galleries and museums worth seeing in Bruges. Visit the town's tourism site for more details.
Everyone in Bruges cycles. With no hills, few cars and lots of places to park a bike, it’s a great way to get around and cycle hire is easily found.
Don't forget to leave time for shopping. The range of fashion shops is dazzling and quite different to the high street at home.
Looking for souvenirs?
Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. Any shape you fancy (and don’t miss the Chocolate Museum at St Jansplein – a must for chocaholics).
Exquisite lace shops are everywhere.
For a really cheesy pressie, buy your mother (or mother-in-law?) a lace loo-roll holder. Or maybe a beautiful lace tablecloth would be more appropriate……
At the weekends check out the flea markets - the Tourist Board calls them "antique markets" which is stretching a point a bit, but rake around and you can come up with some lovely trinkets. They’re open for business every day along the banks of the canals.
How to get there:
Flight companies like lastminute.com and expedia.com do occasionally offer trips to Bruges from UK destinations. However, the train time between Brussels and Bruges is only one hour, so travellers visiting Brussels could also consider a day trip to this charming town.
