It is possible to go from
Brussels to Bruges by high-speed train in 55 minutes for about 15 Euros. Known as the Venice of the North, this city was a port city in the 1300s.. But as the waters receded, it moved away from the sea, so the port was moved to Blakenberge.
It is easy to find many accommodation alternatives in Bruges according to your budget.. What I can recommend among these is the ibis budget Brugge hotel located on the outskirts of the city, only a 5-minute walk from the Beguinage and a 20-minute walk from the Belfort.. As for the hotels in the inner parts of the city, Hotel Bourgoensch Hof is a hotel you can choose with its convenient location and proximity to transportation networks.. The hotel is a 10-minute walk from the De Halve Maan Brewery and the Beginaj Buildings, and less than a 5-minute walk from the Groeninge Museum. Alternatively, consider the Hotel Koffieboontje, which is located almost in the same location and is close to shopping, restaurants and entertainment venues.. For other hotels in Bruges, you can also browse herebooking.com’.
Our hotel is on the street called Maria straat and we walk from the train station. The walking path is very enjoyable.. First we pass through a beautiful park. Since it is morning hours, many people went for a walk.. There are many bridges over the canal. Stone houses on the riverbank overlooking the canal, the colorful doors and windows of these houses are very impressive.. I can still hear the “cramming” sounds made by the wheels of our suitcases on the stone roads.. The roads are so pleasant that I don’t have a thought like “let’s go to the hotel right away and settle in”.
Brugge’s population is around 1 million, but Belgium’s top tourist attraction. 4 million tourists visit Bruges annually. Our hotel is very close to the cathedral and the main square.. Old but very central hotel. A hotel with very steep stairs and high ceilings… Notre Dame Hotel.
We left ourselves to the streets of the city as we left our luggage at the hotel.. Shops here open at 10:00 and close at 18:00.. First we walk to the main square called Markt Place. This square is somewhat reminiscent of the square in Krakow.. The roof styles of the surrounding buildings are also similar to the roof architecture of Latvia, Lithuania.
All the cafes around are more beautiful than the other.. We are eyeing one of them; Le Panier D’or… There is a kind of fish unique to Bruges here, we tried it.. It was delicious.
Cycling is more common in Bruges than in Brussels.. Almost all of the side streets are cobblestone. Many side streets are always from the 16th century.. You can explore the city by renting a bike here.. Rents of bikes vary between 5 Euros and 12 Euros per day.
It is believed that the first feminist movement in the world was held in Bruges.. This is because there are Beguines living here.. Beguines 12. These are the women who started to live collectively in the region that includes West Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg, which are called Low countries in the 19th century.. These people, who belong to the Roman Catholic religion, have worked as volunteer nurses in hospitals or as volunteer teachers in schools.. They have shown that they can continue their lives without the need for a man by living in groups.. If a woman marries in this community, she can leave this community.. The last Beguine is said to have died in Bruges in 1920.. That’s why The place where the Beguines lived has been included in the Unesco world heritage list. According to other rumors, there are currently 27 Beguines left in Bruges.
Squares, Sculptures and Important Buildings
Due to the artworks it contains, the city, even the country, The most important feature of “Our Lady’s Church“, which is shown as the most important church, is that it has the highest tower in the city.. 13. Its construction started in the 15th century,. It is completed in the gothic style in the 19th century.. The height of the tower at the time of its completion is 122 meters.. This is Belgium’s 2nd. church with the tallest tower. First place belongs to the cathedral in Antwerp with 123 meters. It is not because of its religious nature that it is most important, but this title belongs to St Salvator’s Church. In the chapel on the right wing of the church is the Madonna (Virgin Mary) statue made by Michelangelo in his 20s . Although this marble work was made for the church in Sienna, Italy, it was brought here in 1506 by Jan and Alexander Moscroen. In addition, there are about 15 marble sculptures on display here.. This is what makes this church most important! In other words, Michelangelo’s Madonna means to Brugge what the Mona Lisa means to Paris.
Just behind this church is the Memling Museum located on the canal bank.. It used to be a hospital. This hospital, which was built in 1188, was converted into a museum after 1978.. Artifacts from that period are currently on display.
There are 2 important squares in Bruges; the first is Markt place aka Town Hall Square, the second is Burg Square. The first square was mostly for commercial purposes, and the second square was the square that houses administrative and religious objects.
The most important structure in Town Hall square is Cloth Hall and Belfry Tower.. Absolutely worth a visit. The first construction date of this place was 1280, but it was damaged by the fire in 1287 and was rebuilt in 1482-86.. Damaged in 1493 and rebuilt in 1741. This is the oldest commercial center of Bruges. Flemish products produced in Belgium were sent to the whole world from here.. It is said that there are currently 364 tiny shops inside.
The Belfry Tower is 83 meters high and you have to climb 366 steps to get up.. If you say is it worth it, definitely yes! 17. The Flemish protected this place from being damaged during the religious wars of the 19th century.. However, not because of the wars, but because of the natural conditions, the tower of the cathedral shifted sideways about 1.5 meters.. But you can hardly notice it. Of course, it is not known whether he will add the title of Pisa of the North next to Venice of the North in the future.
From here to Burg Square’ . In the past, this square was surrounded by walls to protect it against the attacks of Vikings and Normans, but now not much remains of these walls.. The most striking building in this square is Town Hall built in 1376.. Renovated in neo-gothic style in 1895. It has an important place in the history of Bruges.
Burg Square hosts architectural works of different styles.. Right next to the Town Hall, there is another important building in Neo-classical style, which has been used as the Palace of Justice since 1883.. Today, however, it has been converted into a tourist office.
On the left side of the square, it was built in baroque style in 1662.. There is the building that housed the priests and nuns working in the Donatius Church.. But later it served as a part of the palace.
On the other corner of the square is the Basilicus Church built by the Flemish.. Right next to it, there is the Holy Blood Chapel, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations.. The peculiarity of this place is that it is believed that there is holy blood inside.. 12. In the century, the blood of Jesus was brought here in a cylinder.. At certain times of the day (usually between 14:00 and 15:00), they take this cylinder out of its shelter and place it on a pillow.. Catholics believe it will move the blood. The annual celebration here is on the 2nd of May.. It was the week of the week.
We pass by the canal by passing through the narrow street between the Town Hall building in Burg square.. All the streets here are narrow and like a labyrinth.. But it’s very enjoyable. Whichever corner you turn, a surprise awaits you.. It is possible to explore the city from the canal with a boat tour.. It takes approximately 35 minutes. There is a fish market on the left after you cross the bridge over the canal.. A fish market has been established here every day except Sundays since 1820.
There are various cafes and souvenir shops on the right side.. If you are thinking of buying souvenirs, the prices of the shops on this side are much more reasonable.
The canals are much wider than those in Venice.. The vines surrounding the towers that run parallel to the canal, swans wandering the canals, lush trees, the sound of horseshoes of horse carriages add a different romance to the city.. A boutique hotel located at the intersection of two canals.
As a hotel recommendation in Bruges, Martin’s Bruges hotel, located 10 minutes’ walk from the Beguinage and surrounded by many restaurants, can be considered.. The hotel is located in the heart of the city. You can also choose Hotel Montovani.. The hotel is very close to the historical city center of the city and the prices are very reasonable.. Hotel Ter Brughe, another hotel close to the cultural and shopping spots of the city, is located close to the Markt, Bruges Bell Tower and Augustijnen Bridge.. For other hotels in Bruges, you can browse through booking.com here.
After a short walk, we come to Astrid Park’. This park was built for one of the queens of the period but has now been converted into a botanical garden.. There is also a Neptune’s statue inside.
It is remarkable that the elderly population in the city is high.. Even in the park, many elderly couples take a walk hand in hand, as if renewing their love. It was such a nice and beautiful sight that you should definitely go and experience it. A lush city full of love, the smell of chocolate, the sounds of horseshoes and accordion sounds… We see 600-year-old windmills lined up along another canal to the outside of the old city.. There are only 37 windmills left here now.. They stand on a slightly high hill and are lined up along the canal.. If you have time, you can go to Cafe de Windmolen here on a Sunday morning and have the opportunity to meet Belgians playing cards and drinking beer.
The Chocolate Museum’ in the city of chocolate. >what not to go. The most striking element of this museum is the life-size chocolate statue of Obama, which will greet you at the entrance.. Beware of! There is also a note at the bottom: We ask you not to eat President Obama.. The other one made a chocolate sculpture of Mannequin Pis, but the substance he pees here is chocolate.. The first shaped chocolate molds were made in 1947.. Of course, after those delicious scents, we did not leave the shop under the museum empty-handed.
Then we come to the Potato Museum. This museum was not as impressive as the chocolate museum. They mostly told about the potato’s arrival in Europe.. Potato was first found in Peru. From there he goes to Chile. It spread from Chile to the Canary Islands in 1550, from the Canary Islands to Spain in 1600, and from Spain to Europe.. In Europe, Northern Europe met the potato in the 1780s at the latest. After our museum visits, we continue to breathe the air of the side streets and take a breather with a beer in the main square.
We end our Brugge tour with the Mussels and Flemish plates we ate at a local restaurant called Passage in the evening.
Brugge, after the movie Brugge, shot in Bruges in 2009, won the best screenplay award, it started to attract more tourists, if you ask me, it deserves a lot more tourists. city!
