A city straight out of a fairy tale! Medieval buildings, romantic canals and charming cobblestone streets are just a few of the things to see in fascinating Bruges.
A few words about the city
Bruges is a city in Belgium and the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders. Its population is estimated at 119,748 inhabitants, while in 2002 it was designated the European Capital of Culture. The entire city area covers an area of more than 13,840 hectares, including 1,075 hectares along the coast from Zeebrugge, whose name means "Bruges of the sea". The historic center of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has an oval shape with an area of 430 hectares. Along with some other cities in the North, such as Amsterdam and Stockholm, it has the nicknamed the "Venice of the North", due to its beautiful canals. Finally, its economic importance is high, due to its port, while it was once the leading commercial city in the world! So I will try to present the city to you through my own eyes and share with you what I believe someone visiting it for the first time should see.
Markt
The central market square (Markt) is the heart of the city. It is considered one of the most beautiful in central Europe, both for the square itself and also for the buildings that surround it. More specifically, it is surrounded by colorful buildings with stepped roofs, with the provincial court (Provinciaal Hof) standing out. The square’s trademark, however, is the towering 12th-century belfry (Belfort), which includes 47 bells that ring with a mechanism, which was built in 1748! If you are in good physical condition, you must climb the 366 steps, as the view from 83 meters high over the medieval streets of the old town will compensate you. Furthermore, in the center of the square stands the statue of Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck, the two leaders of a violent uprising against the French in 1302. Around the square there are also several traditional, simple Dutch-style houses, many of which house café-bars and restaurants. Finally, every Wednesday an open-air market is set up in the square, while during Christmas the Markt is transformed into a huge Christmas market!
Burg
The second city square worth visiting is the Burg. The buildings surrounding the cobbled square include the Town Hall (Stadhuis) and the Basilica of the Holy Blood (Heilig-Bloedbasiliek). The Town Hall of Bruges is considered one of the most important secular buildings of medieval Europe, built in 1376 in the Gothic style and renovated in the late 19th century. Today, it houses all the administrative offices of the city! On the other hand, the Basilica of the Holy Blood was built in the 12th century and houses a revered Christian relic! A cloth that belonged to Joseph of Arimathea and is said to have been used to clean the blood of Jesus Christ from the cross after the crucifixion. The relic arrived in Bruges in the 12th century, after being brought back from the Holy Land by the crusader Robert of Jerusalem. The highlight of the basilica is the chapel on the upper floor where the sacred blood relic can be venerated. The blood has coagulated over the centuries into dark stains on the cloth, attested to by documents dating back over 500 years. The relic originally resided in Jerusalem before reaching Istanbul and then Belgium through the hands of various crusaders and knights. Every year in May, the relic is the centerpiece of the Procession of the Holy Blood through the streets of Bruges. For Catholics and many visitors, the sight of this pivotal biblical relic is an awe-inspiring experience that offers a poignant connection to early Christianity. Entrance to the church is free, but if you want to see the holy relic in the museum you will have to pay 5e.
Sint-Salvator Cathedral
The Saint-Salvator Cathedral (Sint-Salvator Cathedral) is the main church of Bruges and one of the oldest buildings in the city. The oldest part of the building dates back to the 12th century, while the original purpose of the construction was to be a common church! Until then, the cathedral was the Church of St. Donatus (opposite the town hall), but at the end of the 18th century, the French occupying forces destroyed it, as well as the bishop's residence that was located there. Admission to the church is free!
Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk
The Church of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk) was built in the early 13th century (1220) and holds the title of the tallest building in the city, with the height of the bell tower exceeding 115 meters! The interior of the church is quite simple without many statues, while there are not a few places where wear and tear makes its appearance! The church's trademark is the amazingly beautiful, carved work of the Italian artist Michelangelo, “the Virgin and the Child”. The statue has been removed from the church twice and is the only work of the artist to have left Italy. Today, it is kept behind bulletproof glass at a great distance from the world. Finally, in the Church of the Virgin Mary you will find the gilded tombs of the Duke of Burgundy, Charles the Bold, and his daughter Mary. Entrance to the church is free, while for the wing with the statue of the Virgin Mary and the various other exhibits you will have to pay 8 euros.
Steenhouwersdijk - Groenerei
As I mentioned in my introduction, Bruges is nicknamed the Little Venice of the North because of its beautiful and romantic canals. One of the best ways to see Bruges’ iconic canals and medieval architecture is to take a boat tour. Several companies offer tours along the city’s canals, allowing you to “glide” past historic buildings and landmarks. The two largest canals in the city are the Steenhouwersdijk and the Groenerei, so don’t miss the opportunity to stroll along them, cross the oldest bridges, the Meebrug and the Peerdenbrug, and admire the picturesque almshouse dating back to 1714, also known as De Pelikaan (The Pelican, a symbol of Christian charity).
Minnewater
Many consider Bruges to be the most romantic city in Europe! Obviously, the Lake of Love (Minnewater) could not be missing from there! It is the first attraction that one encounters when entering through the Ghent Gate (Gentpoort) and a relaxing place of particular natural beauty. According to legend, a girl named Mina once lived near the lake. She fell in love with a young warrior, Stromberg from a neighboring tribe, but the young man was not worthy of the expectations of the girl’s father, who forbade her to see him again and arranged her marriage to another young man. The girl tried to escape into the forest, but her lover got lost, and although he managed to locate her a day later on the shore of the lake, he was unable to save her. Exhausted as she was, she died in his arms. The lake was then named after the girl in her honor. According to tradition, any couple who kisses on the “bridge of lovers” that dominates there, then their love will last forever! Finally, during the winter there is an ice rink and a Christmas market, while in the summer open-air concerts and various other cultural events are organized.
Museums
There are many museums and art spaces in Bruges that are worth your attention. The first ones I recommend you visit are the Groeningemuseum and the Memlingmuseum. The first is a small museum, which features works by masters of Flemish and Belgian painting, such as Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling. The second, on the other hand, is housed in the wards of the medieval hospital of St. John (Sint-Janshospitaal) and has many treasures (from paintings to medical equipment from the Middle Ages), while there you will also see a 15th-century pharmacy! Admission to the first costs 13 euros, while to the second it costs 15 euros.
Equally interesting is the Gruuthusemuseum, which is more of a folk museum. It has a rich collection of everyday objects from merchants' houses (kitchen utensils, musical instruments, furniture, textiles, weapons, etc.) and presents life in Bruges through the centuries. Admission costs 13 euros!
Finally, you can’t leave the city without taking a trip to the Chocolate Museum (Choco-Story) and the Bruges Beer Experience. The former is a family-friendly themed museum that will take you on a journey through the history of chocolate with exciting interactive exhibits. One of the highlights of the Museum is the Belgian Chocolate Theatre, where you can see a live demonstration of how delicious Belgian pralines and truffles are made. You will also learn about techniques such as chocolate quenching and filling coating, while finally you will go through the demonstration hall to see melted chocolate flowing into molds and taste some of the chocolates. Ultimately, since it is located in Belgium, one of the homelands of beer, it is imperative to visit the Bruges Beer Experience. There you will be able to learn information about the history of beer and taste ingredients and various beers. Entrance to both museums costs 14 euros.
How to go
There is no airport in Bruges, so you will have to reach the city either by train or bus, from a nearby city. The most convenient is, of course, Brussels. Thessaloniki is connected by air to Brussels and Brussels Airport, via Brussels Airlines, where with proper planning one can find tickets from 94€ return. Beyond that, if you are looking for a more economical option, you can choose a Ryanair flight to nearby Charleroi (an hour by bus from Brussels), where with proper planning one can find tickets starting from 47€ return.
Where to stay
Bruges is a very touristy city all year round, which means there are plenty of accommodation options, but they are very expensive compared to what they offer. I would suggest avoiding the old town, where prices are outrageous and there is generally a panic and looking for something a little further out. My suggestion is Hotel 't Putje, a three-star hotel with spacious and fully equipped rooms, located in the heart of the medieval center, right opposite the Concert Hall.
How to move
The best way to get around Bruges is on foot. The city is small, as it takes thirty minutes to walk from one end to the other! An equally good way to get around is by bike, as there are bike paths everywhere and cycling education in general! Finally, there is a bus system in the city, but it is mainly used to get from the train station to the city center, as well as to explore the surrounding areas.
What to eat
Four things you must try when visiting Belgium: mussels, potatoes, beer and chocolate. In the city you will find many restaurants and pubs with traditional flavors, but pay attention to the prices before you sit down, because you may be surprised. For delicious local chocolate waffles, I recommend Chez Albert Breidelstraat.
Useful information
In Belgium we travel with a new type of Passport or Police ID, where the information is written in Latin characters.
In Bruges the languages used are French and Flemish. That is why almost everything is written in both languages, from signs to menus in restaurants and cafes. However, many if not all, speak English, so ask for clarification in English.
The country's currency is of course the Euro.
Belgium is one hour behind Greece (GMT +2).
There is no Greek embassy or consulate in Bruges, so if you need anything, you should contact the nearest one, which is located in Brussels, at 10 Rue des Petits Carmes, 1000 and the phone number is (00322) 5455500 – 01.
In winter, temperatures are quite low, usually below zero, so the ideal time to visit is spring.
Recommended excursions → Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent
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Mouzakidis Pantelis
