During my stay in Belgium in August 2013, I went on a day trip with my friend Timothy to Bruges, a beautiful medieval city on the Northwestern side of the country, about two hours by train from either Brussels or Antwerp.
Canal in Bruges
Before I set out on my trip to Europe, multiple people recommended I visit Bruges, and I am glad I took the time to go visit, as it is a beautiful city. Bruges is quite small, so it is easy to cover on foot on a single day; all the sights can be seen within a few hours, and although there are a number of restaurants and nice bars to keep one entertained during the day, I hear the city does die down at night.
The historic centre of Bruges, which is a recognized UNESCO World Heritage site, is built along a network of canals. The heart of the city is Markt (The Market Square), which is home to notable buildings, including the bell tower with its iconic belfry, and the stately Provincial Court. The medieval city is stunning, with ornate Flemish brick buildings lining the cobble stone streets in all directions.
Bruges’ canals are not only beautiful, but also serve as a mode of transportation. Private boats are often seen cruising the canals, while tourist companies offer tours of the city aboard small speedboats. The tour boats can be boarded at a few different locations, and the ride lasts roughly 45 minutes.
During our visit, Timothy and I joined one of the canal tours. On top of allowing visitors to see the city from a beautiful angle inside the canals, the tour was also informative, as the captain of the boat explained a little bit about the history of the different buildings and about Bruges altogether.
After walking around the city, and cruising down the canals, Timothy and I stopped at a pub to people watch, and so I could have a Brugse Zot, Bruges’ local beer!
Having a Brugse Zot Beer in Bruges
I definitely recommend a visit to Bruges if you’re visiting Europe; as I said, you can easily reach the city from other places within Belgium (and even from other nearby countries) by train, and makes for a great day trip.
Bruges Canal with the Iconic Belfry in the Distance
Visitors don’t always include Belgium into the itineraries of their European trips, but if you can fit in a day or two, you’ll be surprised about how much this tiny country has to offer. While the much bigger Brussels, or even Antwerp have more to see and do, Bruges has incomparable beauty and is well worth a visit.
Filed under: •Bruges
