Last weekend I've visited the picturesque Bruges, which is really photogenic and the capital city of the province of West Flanders. It's great to dwell around this medieval city during a weekend and discover it yourself. I wanted to share my positive experience with you.
Breakfast
What's the best way to start the day before exploring a beautiful city? Yes, that's a delicious breakfast! Both days I've started with a really tastefull breakfast at two places I can really recommend.
- Books and brunch A combination of a second- hand bookstore and a lunchroom. They have a variation of some really good breakfast menus and great coffee.
- Sanseveria bagelsalon This place is named after the "old fashioned" plant species sanseveria and is decorated in grandmother's style. They serve a variety of bagels. On a Sunday morning it could be very busy (also because a lot of places are closed) so prepare yourself for a crowded place where you might have to wait a little while for a table. But the bagels are really nice.
Highlights of the city
- Belfry This is literally a highlight. Climb the 366 steps of the 83 metres high tower of the Belfry and you will rewarded with a breath-taking panoramic view of Bruges. Some parts are really challenging. Because they allow only a limited number of people climbing the tower, they use the system one person out is one person in. This means that you have to take a long waiting time into account. But you can believe me, it's all worth it.
- Beguinage The "princely beguinage ten wijngaarde" is a really silent and peaceful place, with white-coloured houses, in the busy and touristic city centre of Bruges. This was once the home of the beguines, a community of emancipated single or widowed women who lived a pious life. You can walk around and enjoy the tranquility.
- Museum of the Church of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk) With a 115.5 metres high tower, the tallest in the city and really beautiful building from the outside. Inside it contains a valuable collection with Michelangelo’s world-famous Madonna and Child.
Saint Saviour's Cathedral (Sint-Salvatorskathedraal) which is Bruges’ oldest parish church. Inside you can find some medieval toms and a rood loft with an organ.
Almshouses These small and white houses were built in the 14th century. The city centre of Bruges contains a total of 46 almshouses. Just like the beguinage, the almshouses, with their small but beautiful gardens, are a quiet and peaceful place to escape the busy city centre.
- Brewery de halve maan Belgium is famous for their beer and in Bruges you can visit this brewery, which brews the famous beer "Brugse zot". The tourguide will show you, in approximately, the history of the brewery runned by the family Maes. This tour is included one glass of the blond "Brugse zot" afterwards.
- Gin&Tonic Hidden in one of the streets you can find the Brugse gin club, which is a small bar in the kitchen of a ginologist where you can try 300+ of different flavours of gin. The following is written on the door PLEASE KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND WAIT... WE MAY LET YOU IN. You will get a menu containing all the gins sorted out by flavour and country. If you can't choose, you can also ask the ginologist to recommend something, depending on your taste and mood.
Can't wait to discover Bruges yourself?! Hopefully you will enjoy it as much as I did.
Untill the next post!