Bruges
During the 12th and 13th centuries, Bruges (pronounced broozh)
was a center of trade and textile manufacturing, as well
as the largest city in Belgium. When the Zwin silted up
in the late 1400s, the merchants and traders abandoned the
city for Antwerp. Economic decline allowed the city to remain
unchanged for centuries, which is why it is one of the best
preserved medieval cities in Europe.
The city is known for its beautiful walks, scenic canals,
ancient squares and some of the best lace in Belgium (at
the lace center, local women volunteer their time to demonstrate
the ancient practice of making lace by hand). The town's
13th-century Grote Markt (Market Square) has a belfry that's
272 ft/83 m tall and a 47-bell carillon that's world famous.
It's a strenuous climb to the top, but the belfry provides
a great view of the city. Carillon concerts are held on
Sundays. Burg Square has several attractions: the 12th-century
Holy Blood Basilica (which houses the Relic of the Holy
Blood and other artifacts from the Crusades, displayed daily);
the 14th-century town hall (beautiful statues and bas-reliefs),
where wedding couples in all their finery gather on Fridays
for civil ceremonies; and the 18th-century. 245-room Palace
of Justice. Farther down the canal is the Church of Our
Lady, which houses Michelangelo's Madonna and Child. If
you want to visit a medieval house with all its furnishings,
drop in on the Gruuthuse Museum.
Other city sights include the [Jill-century Beguinage, the
medieval guild houses and the 12th-century Medieval Hospital
of St. John (now called the Memling Museum, it contains
the works of Hans Memling and others), if you're interested
in Flemish art, don't miss the Groeninge
Museum, which has works by Memling, Van Eyck, Hieronymous
Bosch, Roger Van der Weyden and other Flemish painters.
If all the art and history gets to be overwhelming, one
of the many outdoor cafes serving Belgian beers on the t'Zand
Plaza can provide respite and plenty of people-watching
opportunities. Be sure to take one of the leisurely boat
rides on Bruges' canals. In May, the town hosts the annual
Procession of Holy Blood, a solemn feast during which costumed
bands reenact stories from the Bible.
Day trips can be made to Kortrijk, 40 mi/65 km south, a
town known for its linens (it also has a nice town hall
and belfry), and Zeebrugge, a nearby seaside resort with
a fishing harbor and scenic promenade. (You can also catch
a ferry for England from Zeebrugge.) On a sunny day, a bike
ride along the Damme canal to the nearby medieval village
of Damme, about 2 mi/5 km north of Bruges, is well worth
the time. 55 mi/90 km northwest of Brussels.
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