Bruges  (BELGIUM/EUROPE)

Bruges , is one of the most picturesque cities in Northern Europe. The medieval city center survived invasions and wars over the last 500 years, yet miraculously kept its 15th-century architecture intact – an achievement that won it Unesco World Heritage status in 2000.

Beyond the picturesque Gothic facades, you can go sailing through the canals, learn about the Flemish Masters, or visit one of the many museums.

Bruges is one hour from Brussels by train , it has significant economic importance, thanks to its port, and was once one of the world’s chief commercial cities. Bruges is a major tourism destination within Belgium.

The city  may be small, but it has over 80 bridges making it easy to navigate and get from one side of the canals to the other , that is why people call the city “Venice of the North”.

It remained a sleepy medieval town until the construction of the port of Zeebrugge and the cutting of a connecting canal (opened 1907) revived trade and stimulated industry and tourism. It was occupied by the Germans in World Wars I and II. The harbour of Zeebrugge was raided by the British in 1918, and blockships were sunk in the canal to deny the use of the port to German submarines.

Bruges is a multi-faceted city, spanning the past, present and future. A wide range of museums and sights are waiting for you to explore. Discover the city and soak up its rich cultural landscape, heritage and cordial residents. Experience Bruges to the fullest, and take in all it has to offer. 

Bruges is a place that lives and breathes history. Visiting this historic city means travelling back in time to the Middle Ages. It is both magical and authentic, and definitely an ideal destination for a romantic weekend. Bruges is one of Europe’s best-preserved cities. This is evidenced by its historic city centre, the entirety of which has been designated a UNESCO world heritage site. The iconic spires of its cathedral and bell tower, its cobbled streets, winding canals and whitewashed façades are almost painfully picturesque.

Flemish art and architecture is world-famous for a reason. Flanders – nowadays the northern part of Belgium – was in the past one of the richest and most advanced parts of Europe. Since the Middle Ages until Baroque, its main cities: Ghent, Bruges and Antwerp developed culture so rich and sophisticated that it was rivalled only by the Northern Italian kingdoms. It is reflected in unique style of Flemish architecture with lavishly ornament buildings with golden figures and hundreds of turrets.

The great fondness of the Flemish residents of Bruges for impressive, quality clothing, led to the development of over 1,500 kinds of lace, woven from silver, gold and silk. Some claim that the Flanders’ unique weaving method, using small looms, was not developed in the region, and in fact originated in ancient Rome. Since those times, Belgium’s provinces developed many techniques for weaving lace, earning Belgium the nickname “The Home of Lace”.

Cafés and restaurants of Bruges are so ideally romantic that you just want to sit there forever and make the moment last. Food is exquisite, too, so the overall experience gives you a lot of pleasure.

All those stone bridges, canals, little lakes with swans, hidden passages, small gates, a secret terrace with a view at towers where you can be all alone, narrow cobbled streets, idyllic little gardens and silent courtyards , they add up to real magic , a magnificent city indeed.