Enjoy a stroll in this beautiful city, wonder around in the city streets and gaze at the beautiful buildings and views over the lovely canals. Lose yourself in the small streets without a city map, sink into this unique scenery and discover picturesque views that can’t be found in any tourist guide. The city that became the muse of American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem "The Belfry of Bruges". 

The town’s name is spelled several different ways, but Brugge is how the locals spell it. Brugge is about an hour’s train ride northwest of Brussels.

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We took the train to Brugge and walked from the station into the city. It’s an easy walk from the train station to the centre of Bruges giving you a chance to enjoy the great sights along the way in this beautiful place.

The information centre at the station will give you the city map of the city for 50 cents. We spent the afternoon and evening wandering around Brugge 

Upon visiting Brugge, you will immediately notice that this city has always carefully cherished its architectural and artistic treasures from the past. What makes Brugge so typical though, is the way it deals with this past today

The historic city centre was added to the Unesco’s World Heritage List. The current city boundaries still coincide exactly with those of the medieval city centre, and the spaces and structures that were so typical of Bruges in the past have been preserved. The town stands silently, frozen in time, cobbled streets, lampposts and the clamping of the horses’ hooves. "Hurmmphh!!!" goes a horse as a church bell tolls somewhere in the background!! 

The Historic Town of Brugge is testimony, over a long period, of a considerable exchange of influences on the development of architecture, particularly in brick Gothic, as well as favouring innovative artistic influences in the development of medieval painting, being the birthplace of the school of the Flemish Primitives. It is an outstanding example of an architectural ensemble, illustrating significant stages in the commercial and cultural fields in medieval Europe, of which the public, social, and religious institutions are a living testimony. 

Walking is the best way to discover Brugge. The city is rather small - you can easily walk across it in half an hour. On the tourist map, you’ll find 4 walking tours of an hour and a half each which allow you to explore Brugge at your own pace. It also gives you the chance to be lead through the cities streets, history and culture.

Walking tour A Bruges, City of Monuments  
walking tour B Sleeping Bruges  
walking tour C Bruges and Europe  
walking tour D Surprising Bruges  

As we walked along the streets, we came across the Typical Brugge city scene with a canal, boat and old buildings in the background. The view with trees lining the borders of the canal makes the atmosphere more pleasant.  

Since we were visiting Brugge for a limited time, we decided to take the canal trip of the town. One of the ways that people seems to enjoy in Brugge is taking the horse carriage. The driver/guides are very skilled in attracting tourists and explain to them what they are seeing. Brugge has pretty narrow streets. 

Get oriented to Brugge by starting with a 35-minute boat ride along the main canal, which bisects the old town. There are a number of boarding/debarking docks near the town centre. The Dijyerstraat docks are most centrally located. The captain narrates the major sights repeatedly in Dutch, French and English as you silently pass Brugge’s signature architecture with stepped-gable facades and colourful flower boxes lining the canals.

The old polished varnished wood didn’t seem to complain as we each piled on board. Instead, the craft simply sank quietly to remain just above the waterline as the last passenger was seated Along our tour we see two of the city’s most prominent landmarks (Jan van Eyckplein Chapel and the Belfry and Halles) as they pop in and out between the buildings in the foreground.

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Gliding in these dark waters, surrounded by swans, at the foot of medieval brick houses where time left its patina, covered with ivy, passing a humped-back bridge in is a magic and unforgettable experience. Several low bridges pass by as we duck our heads each time!!!

On debarking, amble north along the narrow streets to the bustling Markt, the ancient Market Square. Cafes line the square’s fringes, and the ancient Belfort (belfry tower) awaits your ascent of its 366 steps for an incredible city view. The 47-bell carillon chimes every quarter-hour, and concert pieces are played by the carillon at scheduled times throughout the week.

It’s a short stroll eastward to the opulent square called Burg, Brugge’s civic center and its 9th-century birthplace when the Count of Flanders constructed a castle here. Today the square preserves six centuries of architecture. In the southwest corner is the Romanesque Basilica of the Holy Blood. Dating from the 1100s, this church houses the relic of the blood of Christ, reportedly brought to Brugge in 1150 after the Second Crusade. As your view sweeps counter clockwise from the Basilica, you’ll see the Gothic Town Hall (1400s), the Renaissance Recorder’s House (1600s), and the Baroque Provost’s House (1700s).

Why not take advantage of the cafeteria to meditate in silence in front of a drink, even a brunch, if time permits, in the loggia under the warm hug of a sun, barely hidden in one of those Flemish skies. Trough the streets, walk towards the small St. Boniface Bridge, and watch from that bridge all boats going to the Beguinage. It’s an out of this world image, surrounded by all this images and impressions of long gone ages. 

As we start our walk back to the station, the memories are etched in forever… of a town frozen in time… many a silent tales the church bells sing…