Going to beautiful Bruges is like taking a trip back in time. With its medieval charm, the capital of West Flanders attracts every guest immediately under its spell. For this reason too, Bruges was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. During the time Bruges also attracted the interest of the tourists as a city of culture. The arrival of modernization and technology could not prevent the medieval flair of this wonderful city from remaining. If you take enough time, you can discover many quiet places where time could have stood still.
According to Fashion is Supreme, the old town is definitely one of the special places and quarters of Bruges. Above all, the enchanting picturesque surroundings with the colorful windmills, old ramparts and many canals are stunning.
The amusement park of the enchanting city and the Boudewijnpark offer all kinds of entertainment. So you always have a lot of fun on the roller-skating track, rides in the Mississippi boats, mini golf and rides in the ferris wheel. There are a few other attractions in this park, but one that is particularly popular is the Dolphinarium, where the daily shows show the feats of sea lions and dolphins.
The most remarkable houses in Bruges are the overwhelming Godhuizen – houses of God. These houses are scattered all over Bruges and have their origins in the fourteenth century. At that time, the wealthy families of this town built these houses for poor widowers and widows. The Godheis de Meulenaere complex is an absolute highlight.
The medieval heart of Bruges is the city’s central market square. It is the most beautiful place in the city, where the imposing Cloth Hall and the eighty-three meter high bell tower immediately catch your eye. At the end of the market square you will find many buildings with a medieval touch. There is always a lot of activity on the market square. The many restaurants and cafés invite you to linger and relax after a long shopping spree in the various shops.
The second largest square in Bruges is Burg-Platz, which is famous for its beautiful town hall from 1376. The gorgeous Gothic windows are particularly impressive. To find some relaxation and tranquility, you should pay a visit to the beguinage “De Wijngard”, founded in 1245.
The city hall of Bruges, built between 1376-1420, has a grandiose staircase that leads to the entrance hall on the first floor. Tourists can look forward to a glimpse of the Gothic chamber there. The town hall still plays a major role in everyday life in Bruges. The wooden ceiling of the chamber has beautiful carvings from the late Middle Ages.
Bruges has some delightful and interesting galleries and museums. Many visitors to Bruges want to be there when a diamond is finished. You can get this opportunity in the local diamond museum. You can learn something about the history of the Diamond Center in Bruges and watch a cutter at work. A visit to the Chocolate Museum is an absolute must for chocolate lovers. Interesting facts about the cocoa bean and its processing into sweet delicacies are presented here.
The Bruges concert hall is dominated by the twenty-eight meter high lantern tower. Around three hundred guests can be found inside the tower, the chamber music salon. The large auditorium can even hold up to 1,300 people to attend theater, jazz, classical music and many other performances.
The churches in Bruges are stunning places of worship that you should definitely see. The Gothic-style Basilica of the Holy Blood stands on Burg-Platz. It contains an important relic of the country. According to a legend, the blood of Christ is said to be in the bottle.
Every year thousands of pilgrims go to Ver-Assebroek church to honor the miraculous figure of the Madonna. Bruges’s main church has been the Sint-Salvator Cathedral since the 19th century.
A popular place to relax is Minnevater Park. The lake, which bears the enchanting name Lake of Love, has a very dreamy location. In the mild summer nights, many guests come together in this park for rock and other concerts.
One of the city’s bridges is the Bargebrug, which connects Mark Minnevater with the Vestibuelplein on the outskirts. With its asymmetrical shape and bright red color, it leaves an unforgettable impression. As a tourist you get a view of the city of Bruges when you arrive on this bridge.
A brilliant example of the extravagance of modernity in Bruges is the Conzett Bridge planned by the Swiss Jürg Conzett. It fits harmoniously into the landscape of the city.