Bruges, Belgium

A canal in Bruges with the famous Belfry in the background

Burges (/ˈbruːʒ/ in English; Dutch: Brugge [ˈbrʏɣə]; French: Bruges [bʁyːʒ]; German: Brügge [ˈbrʏɡə]) is the capital and largest city in the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country. One of the historical cities it’s become prominent World Heritage Site of UNESCO since the year of 2000. Also known as ‘Venice of the North', it is criss-crossed by canals, the main ring of which encloses the historic centre.

In the eleventh century Bruges was a major commercial centre for the wool industry, and by the late thirteenth century it was the main link to Mediterranean trade. It soon became a major financial centre too, and in 1309 the Bourse opened, making the city the most sophisticated money market in the entire region. By the Sixteenth century, however, Bruges had split from the Netherlands, and the port of Antwerp had taken over much of its trade, leaving Bruges to decline into a provincial backwater.

The old street in Bruges.

Part of the buildings at the Markt

There is much fine art and architecture to see in Bruges. The Church of Our Lady (Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk) boasts the highest brick spire in Europe and contains a sculpture of the Madonna by Michelangelo. The Basilica of the Holy Blood (Heilig Bloed Basiliek) is another famous church that displays a phial said to contain the blood of Christ. The Groeninge museum contains paintings from six centuries, including works by Hans Memling and Jan Van Eyck, who lived and worked here.

Other famous buildings in Bruges include:

* The Béguinage

* The Basilica of the Holy Blood (Dutch: Heilig-Bloedbasiliek). The relic of the Holy Blood, which was brought to the city after the Second Crusade by Thierry of Alsace, is paraded every year through the streets of the city. More than 1,600 inhabitants take part in this mile-long religious procession, many dressed as medieval knights or crusaders.

* The modern Concertgebouw ("Concert Building")

* The Old St. John's Hospital

* The Saint Salvator's Cathedral

* The Groeningemuseum, which has an extensive collection of medieval and early modern art, including a notable collection of Flemish Primitives. Various masters, including Hans Memling and Jan van Eyck, lived and worked in Bruges.

* The City Hall on the Burg square

* The Provincial Court (Provinciaal Hof)

* The preserved old city gateways: the Kruispoort, the Gentpoort, the Smedenpoort and the Ezelpoort. The Dampoort, the Katelijnepoort and the Boeveriepoort are gone.

If you tire of cultural sightseeing take a trip on a canal or just sit in a pretty, peaceful spot and try one of the 350 or more beers.

THe Church of The Our Lady.

The beautiful scene of Rozenhoedkaai.