After struggling to wake up Sunday morning (thanks to the rowdy neighbours’ early morning talking-loudly-in-the-street-escapades) we finally set out to go to Bruges, which is about an hour’s train ride from Brussels Central Station.
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| Armed with Starbucks and a nifty travel book! |
For the first day since I arrived we had wonderful weather (for European standards). The sun was shining and we didn’t have to even consider taking out our umbrellas! If only I can shake that nip in the air, reminding me that I’m returning to winter… again. Well, upon our arrival, with enough confidence to speak some necessary Flemish and with steaming Starbucks cappuccino and our handy travel guide in hand, we set off to the nearest bell tower (which we assumed will eventually lead us to the Markt (or “Town Square” - as people usually understand it better in English) which is the first stop for our self-guided tour.
I was instantly transported to a medieval town as soon as the train station disappeared behind us, and I was overcome by several sighs of (ah!) romance! When you walk along the streets and listen to your (and the touristy horse-drawn carriages) footsteps echoing from the walls, you can imagine yourself living in medieval times (well, in the romanticised version of medieval time). We stumbled upon the Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk (The Church of Our Lady) which took over 200 years to build. Inside is Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child which was imported by a Flemish merchant and which is one of the only of the artist’s work to leave Italy during his life.
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| Belfort (the bell tower on the Markt) |
The town is extremely well preserved and is one of the few cities (or towns) which escaped major damage from the two world wars. Bruges is lined with several canals – the Markt used to be linked to the North Sea through one of the main canals. Unfortunately today, the canals do not lead up to the Markt anymore, but does flow underneath is.
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| Some of the restaurants and apartments across the Belfort on the Markt |
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| The Stadsschouwburg |
We started our main tour at the Markt, where markets have been held since the 10th century. Some of the houses and buildings surrounding the Markt date back from the 17th Century and the Belfort (bell tower – built between 13th – 15th centuries) which is 83m high, looms over the Markt (and most of the town). We received a warm welcoming by the chiming of the bell tower (even a Beatles song resonated through the town!). We continued with our tour to the Stadsschouwburg (Municipal Theatre) which is a beautiful Neo-Classical building from 1868 with an interesting statue of a bird catcher (which was inspired by one of Mozart’s operas – the Magic Flute) at the front doors. We then passed the Huis Ter Beurze (Stock Exchange) which is where merchants and bankers exchanged credit notes since the 13th century – this is where the French word for stock–exchange (“bourse”) comes from.
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| Poortersloge |
We then passed the Poortersloge (Burghers’ lodge) which used to be a clubhouse for the aristocracy and leading citizens in Bruges. Across the Poortersloge is the Oud Tolhuis (Old Customs House) which is, of course, where custom charges were assessed. The Tolhuis used to sit across the weighbridge, but now the canal ends right in front of the Tolhuis.
We made our way to the Walburgaker, which is a Baroque church built for the Jesuits in the 16th century. We continued to the St Annakerk (St Anne Church) which looks slightly more as if they built the front door shut and bolted up the window, than an inviting parish church. We strayed from our initial route to look at one of the parks at the end of the street and we were surprised to find some traditional windmills on hilly grass which made a delightful picture!  |
| Jeruzalemkerk |
We then passed the Jeruzalemkerk which is a churched themed on pilgrimage sites in Jerusalem. The church has a very interesting tower made of wood, topped by a tin orb! We then continued past the English Convent, St Gilleskerk and returned to the Eier Markt (Egg Market) which leads back to the Markt.
We also took a boat tour to get a different perspective from the canals.
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| Armand right before our boat trip |
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| View from the boat |
By the time we got off the boat we were starving, so we went to one of the restaurants on the Markt where we enjoyed a great meal of mossels en frite (Mussels and fries). It was delicious! Armand also tried the local beer served at the pub (kwak) which comes in an amusing-shaped glass!
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| Mossels |
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| Kwak Beer |
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| Locals enjoying a late afternoon drink |
Bruges definitely is worth the trip from Brussels (or anywhere in Belgium) as it still holds its magical medieval charm. The smell of fresh waffles, chocolates and frites wafts through the small streets. It definitely looks like a great place to live if you’re looking for a more relaxed-paced life. Maybe one day…
Have you ever been to Bruges? Or have you been to any medieval village which has been restored and preserved?
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