Bruges is the epitome of the old saying, "All roads lead to Rome". With its convenient location roughly in the middle of the London, Paris and Amsterdam triangle, you will find many ways to travel to Bruges.
The art connoisseur needs to spend a few weeks in Brugge, if not a month. The quantity and quality of museums is impossible to capture here, what follows are favorites and choice selections—by no means an exhaustion of what Brugge has to offer.
The Groeninge Museum hosts a diverse collection of artworks, including ‘Flemish Primitive’ masterpieces as well as paintings completed by some of the most talented artists the world has ever known. Be sure to check out the Brusselmanses, Memlings, Jan and Jan van Eycks, and if you have time left over take a look at the Neo-classical, Realist, Symbolist, Modernist, and Flemish Expressionist offerings Groeninge possesses.
The historic city centre was added to the Unesco’s World Heritage List. The current city boundaries still coincide exactly with those of the medieval city centre, and the spaces and structures that were so typical of Bruges in the past have been preserved.
This, however, does not mean that there is no room for modern architecture and modern work and living spaces.
Take your time to walk through busy squares, refreshing parks and quiet, intimate cobbled streets, and do not forget to visit the modest almshouses as well as the imposing patrician’s homes!
Bruges' main shopping areas are situated between 't Zand and Markt Square - opening hours are generally between 0900-1800. A number of regular markets take place every week, including at Markt Square on Wednesday mornings, 't Zand Square on Saturday mornings, and Dijver on summer weekends. The Fish Market, across the canal from Burg Square, trades Tuesday to Saturday in the mornings.
The big chain stores are concentrated on Steenstraat, while Noordzandstraat features numerous boutique outlets. Any number of shops offering lace and chocolate can be found all over the city centre. A good example of the former is 't Kanthuisje, at Breidelstraat 5, while chocaholics will delight in Chocoladehuisje, Wollestraat 15.
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country.
The historic city centre is a prominent World Heritage Site of UNESCO. It is oval-shaped and about 430 hectares in size. The area of the whole city amounts to more than 13, 840 hectares, including 1, 075 hectares off the coast, at Zeebrugge (meaning "Brugge aan Zee ",
or "Bruges on Sea",
). The city's total population is 117, 073 (1 January 2008), Definitions of metropolitan areas in Belgium. The metropolitan area of Bruges is divided into three levels. First, the central agglomeration (agglomeratie), which in this case is Bruges municipality, with 117, 073 inhabitants (2008-01-01). Adding the closest surroundings (banlieue) gives a total of 166, 502. And, including the outer commuter zone (forensenwoonzone) the population is 255, 844. Retrieved on 2008-10-19.
Along with a few other canal-based northern cities, such as Amsterdam, it is sometimes referred to as "The Venice of the North".
Bruges has a significant economic importance thanks to its port. At one time, it was the "chief commercial city" of the world.
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