Brugge, Belgium Travel Blog
Brugge (or Bruges) is a city full of canals, beer, fries, and of course the delicious waffles. It is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country. It is described as “Venice of the North” and if you catch a boat and cruise the city via the canals, you will surely understand why. The canals are a part of the city nearly as old as Brugge themselves. They were built in the 12th century in order to help carry merchandise across the city and cross through the entirety of the city center. They allow visitors to see the attractions from a different angles, as well as to view some that would otherwise remain inaccessible. I went on an extended day trip with ITT at the end of March and the weather was absolutely gorgeous. One day was the perfect amount to see the highlights of Brugge, but two days would have been ideal. I felt a bit rushed toward the end of the day and I wish I had one more day to go in more of the attractions. The bus drops everyone off at the train station. From there, I headed toward the city center by crossing over Barge Bridge. This modern bridge will catch your eyes with its bright red color and unique shape. This takes you to the Lake of Love, which is surrounded by a park and has a terrace facing the lake for the perfect view. Near the lake is Beguinage. This complex was a home to Beguines, women of a Christian spiritual movement of the 13th century. These women decided to devote their lives to Christ, live in poverty, and take care of the sick and poor. It is the only preserved beguinage in Brugge. Since 1927, it serves as a convent of Benedictine nuns. After taking a stroll through the gardens, I made my way to Saint Salvator’s Cathedral. Along the way, I passed De Halve Man Brewery, the only family brewery left in Brugge. After seeing the inside of Saint Salvator (free admission), I walked toward the Church of Our Lady. On the way, I stopped in a shopping square to have breakfast. I quickly realized that Brugge was quite expensive. When I reached the Church of Our Lady, I was amazed at its colossal height. The church tower stands at 115 meters and is the second biggest brick tower in the world and also the biggest building in the the city of Brugge. The church possess a marble sculpture of the Madonna and Child by Michaelangelo, various paintings and wooden carvings, and even tombs of Mary of Burgundy and Charles the Bold. You can visit the main part of the church for free, but if you wish to see the museum and artworks, you will need to purchase a ticket. Make sure to go around the back of the church to get a different perspective. Down the street from the church along the canal is where the city’s market is, which is supposedly there most days. Opposite the market is Groeninge Museum, if you are interested in an art museum. I walked through the market and noticed a brewery on the other side of the canal called Bourgonge des Frandres. It was time a great time to stop and have a drink on the outside patio as I watched the boats pass by. Next, I walked around the Quai of the Rosary, which a starting point of many boat trips. This place offers one of the most spectacular views in all of Brugge. I loved the atmosphere of this area. One drink wasn’t enough, so next on the agenda was the 2be Bar and Shop. As soon as you walk in, you will notice the very long beer wall. This work of wall art features a large display of beer bottles and glasses. This bar is an awesome place to try different kinds of local beers. The shop also has a wide selection of beers to take home with you. I came back at the end of the day to get a suitcase full of a variety of local beers. A little ways down the street is House of Waffles, which is a fantastic place to stop for all of your waffle cravings. You can get waffles all over Brugge, but this place stuck out to me because of the large selection of toppings. You can order at the window or go inside to sit down. You will have an option between Brussels or Liege waffles and Liege are way better in my opinion. I topped mine with vanilla ice cream, strawberries, and bananas. Mmm Mmmm Mmmmm. My next stop was the astounding City Hall, which is located in Burg Square on the grounds of a former castle. It was built in 1376, making it one of the oldest city halls in Belgium. This is where the ruling over the country took place for some 600 years. Nowadays, it houses a city museum. Not far from City Hall is Market Square, the very center of the historical heart of the city. The square is lined with wonderful sights, like the Bell tower and the Provincial Court. There are various restaurants, pubs, and stores around the square. Belfry is an 83 meter high bell tower. If you climb all the way to the top on a sunny day, you can see the entirety of the city below you. Unfortunately, I did not have enough time for this as the line was long and I didn’t want to miss seeing the rest of the city. When visiting, do not miss the chance to admire the Belfry’s 47-bell clarion. The bells are made to ring by hand every day at 11 o’clock. Keep in mind that there is no elevator at the Belfry, so it is not wheelchair accessible. It takes 366 stairs to reach the top of