Bruges, Belgium
The nearby town of Bruges is a wonderful retreat from the hustle
and bustle of Brussels. Despite its popularity with tourists, Bruges
is a tiny city with only 45,000 residents. The 13th century cloth-manufacturing
town remains remarkable preserved. Visiting Bruges is like taking
a trip back in time. The narrow cobblestone streets, romantic canals,
glorious parks, and ancient city squares provide the perfect setting
for a relaxing vacation.
Trains depart from Brussels to Bruges every hour. The
trip takes about an hour and stops in Ghent. Buses travel
from the train station to the town center. However,
taking a stroll through the park is the best way to
experience Bruges. On your journey you’ll cross
a medieval bridge and pass along side a romantic swan
filled lake. The lake is called the Minnewater, which
actually translates to “Lake of Love”. Further
along on your journey you’ll come across the Begijnhof
(a commune where religious women known as Begijns once
lived). Today, the Begijnhof is occupied by Benedictine
nuns who try to preserve the Begijn tradition. The area
consists of a series of small white washed houses and
a church enclosed around a beautiful park. A feeling
of tranquility over comes visitors who pass through
the Begijnhof.
A bit north is the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk (Church of
Our Lady). It took two centuries (13th-15th) to build
this spectacular church with its spire that reaches
towards the heavens. The Church of Our Lady contains
Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child in addition to
a number of other masterpieces.
 Bruges
has two center squares, the Markt and the Burg,
where you’ll find a number of beautiful gothic buildings in
addition to some fine restaurants. Next to the grand Town Hall in
the Burg is the richly decorated Heilige-Bloedbasiliek. This Romanesque
basilica houses a cloth said to be impregnated with Christ’s
holy blood. The streets connecting the town squares are lined with
shops selling everything from lace to souvenirs. You may also want
to grab some warm Belgium waffles from one of the many street vendors.
Canal tours and horse and buggy rides are available
year-round in Bruges. Visitors can typically see all
the sights in one day. However, we recommend taking
an extra day to relax and soak in the history.
More Information:
 www.brugge.be
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