Bruges is a quiet Belgian tourist town with beautiful canals and a Flemish spirit. Here you can easily plunge into Belgian provincial everyday life and get lost among medieval narrow streets, escape from Brussels for a couple of days from European institutions, listen to a special dialect, taste delicious beer and be surprised by the friendliness of the locals - and they are really most often indigenous, unlike Brussels. We tell you how to get there, where to live and how to have fun in a mini guide to Bruges.
Transport
The first step is to get to Belgium. You can fly to Brussels from Vilnius by Ryanair. If you buy tickets in advance, you can count on € 20. From there, it flies AirBaltic(from € 158 both ways). You can fly Ryanair from Warsaw for €9 if you're lucky. All these low-cost airlines fly to Charleroi, "South Brussels". The most optimal transfer is now flibco.com: to Brussels - € 14, directly to Bruges - € 17, but there are nice promotions up to € 5. Nobody canceled Blablacar, very lucky coincidences happen, the price is halved. Trains run constantly from Brussels, your option is Go Pass tickets (under 26 years old) with a 50% discount, it costs only € 6 to Bruges. By the way, on weekends you can get everywhere for half price. The road Bruges - Brussels takes only 1 hour, in addition, you can look into Ghent on one ticket, but this is a different story.
Using public transport in Bruges is difficult, as the city is compact and easier to reach on foot or by bike. Especially if you stay in the old part of the city. Moreover, one trip on a city bus will cost € 3 (this is more expensive than a good glass of Belgian beer!), With the same ticket, you can transfer to another route within an hour.
You can rent a bike from €6 to €15 per day. The cheapest service Deketing (Gentpoortstraat 23 te 8000 Brugge) , 5 minutes from the central square, ask for a return time, they close early. In addition, you can find another provider near the station Bruges Bike Rental (Niklaas Desparsstraat 17) .
Housing
Cheap housing in Belgium is hard, so you can try to fit in with Couchsurfing.com, do not have high hopes: the city is small, but there are many tourists. But airbnb.com very well developed, prices ranging from €50 to €100 for a great apartment, so if you're traveling with a group, this is probably the best option.
But if not, then a couple of options still remain. In hostels, prices start from € 15.
Snuffel (Ezelstraat 42)- the hostel is located in the central part, youth atmosphere, parties are organized in the bar, locals also drop in, there are beer tastings, bikes are rented out.
Lybeer (Korte Vuldersstraat 31) - typical atmosphere of the city of Bruges: an authentic house with all medieval features, a small number of rooms, 5 minutes from the central square - you get the feeling that you are in another dimension.
Charlie Rockets (Hoogstraat 19)- a great hostel for a big company, lots of places, great party, big bar with billiards and live music. So if you get bored, you can just drop into a party and even get to a rock movie screening.
For lovers of comfort, you can settle in ibis (Katelijnestraat, 65A) . Chain hotel with all modern facilities at an average price near the station.
And for big movie fans and Colin Farrell fans, it's worth mentioning Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce Hotel (Wollestraat 41-47). It was in this hotel that he ate, slept, had breakfast overlooking the canal and jumped out of the window in the movie "Lie Down in Bruges." True, the price for such a pleasure bites a little (€ 265 per night). Although you should just walk up: the view of the hotel is considered the most photographed place in the city.
Cultural program
Bruges is a provincial tourist city and a great place for a relaxing holiday. It is difficult to find a party place here, but Flemish architecture, quiet pubs, nice locals and peace cannot be avoided. The historical part is included in the UNESCO list. Here you can make several hiking trails, get lost in romantic parks, climb one of the mills. You can start exploring the city during Free Walking Tours in Brugges .
Although a boat trip through the canals seems like a rather banal activity, it is worth it. The streets look completely different. It is advisable to choose a better time, so that the boat is not very crowded, there are really a lot of tourists in the city, especially on weekends. Pleasure costs € 8, but the view is mesmerizing. In the very center you can find a pier Bootchten Brugge (Nieuwstraat 11) .
If after all the walks you are still drawn to history, you should visit the Museum of History Historium Bruges (Markt 1). It has just been updated, so there are enough interactive features. Will tell about Bruges, surroundings and Belgium. An additional bonus is one of the most picturesque streets on which it is located.
IN Groeningemuseum (Dijver 12) you can find paintings by Jan van Eyck, a native of Bruges, the same inventor of oil paints and an artist of the early Renaissance - the locals are very proud of him.
If you are tired of history and silence, drive to the Skate Park or Youth Center de comma (Binnenwag 4). There are very interesting events on the poster, as a bonus, an additional opportunity to get acquainted with the local party.
After long walks, you can lie down on the grass or play frisbee in one of the parks. Minnewater Lake or Lake of Love is very close to the train station, so you can brighten up the waiting time for the train. And Astridpark appears quite unexpectedly among the narrow streets.
If there is little time left, do not miss the opportunity to breathe in the sea air, the North Sea is within easy reach. The easiest option is to take the train to Ostend (Oostende), it will take no more than 20 minutes. A more interesting option: by bike to get to Zeebrugge (Zeebrugg), a port city, admire the sand dunes, is located 20 km. Or an equally attractive option to visit the "kurotny" Knokke(Knokke Heist)- Belgian Monaco, in the same 20 km. On the streets you can meet famous Belgians, expensive cars and interesting houses. Due to the "resort" nature of the town, the prices in the institutions are too high (it is worth preparing in advance), but, for example, you can warm up in Restaurant Cezanne (Lippenslaan 98, 8300 Knokke-Heist) . The tea room has excellent homemade desserts.
Very close to the national park Zwin with a variety of bird species, including flamingos. A place for lovers of nature and sea air, and in the exhibition hall there are interesting interactive features. The best way to get there is by bus from Knokke.
Where to eat
Bruges, as a typical tourist town, pleases with an abundance of small and very cozy places with a pleasant atmosphere. Belgian prices: Lunch menus start at €12 on average, but the portions are excellent.
Start your morning at a coffee shop Li O Light (Dweerstraat 30), delicious pastries, interesting coffee mixes and unforgettable hot chocolate with honey and Maltesers. You can catch Wi-Fi and admire the beautiful drawings on the walls.
For a more serious meal, you can go to Sanseveria Bagelsalon (Predikherenstraat 11)
. Best burgers in town, delicious salads and huge portions.
Royal Frituur & Eetboetiek (Langestraat 181A)‒ local high-quality fast food, suitable for lovers of vegan food. For example, a large Belgian potato (for the phrase French fries can be kicked out) with a spring roll and homemade mayonnaise will cost only € 6. The place is more like a takeaway, but the very nice hostess Anna can rent a mini-picnic blanket, which guarantees an extra piquancy for cool sets. After all, two steps away is the lawn near the Kruisvest mill, a picturesque view of the city and a place for youth hangouts. On weekends, frisbee teams gather here, and in winter you can ride down the hill.
In the very center at lunchtime it is worth looking into Brasserie forestiere (Academiestraat 11). The lunch menu costs € 12.5, there are days with mussels and very tasty fish soups.
An evening can be spent in an authentic Flemish place Cafe Vlissinghe (Blekersstraat 2). Despite the fact that this is the oldest cafe in the city, it has been operating since 1515, the quality is at the highest level with very pleasant prices. There are very few places here, old large tables where several companies can crowd at the same time, delicious beer and a pleasant atmosphere.
You can find the cuisine of all the peoples of the world in Stoepa (Oostmeers 124). Close to train station and Minnewater-Lake. In summer, a beautiful terrace with interesting events is organized in the courtyard.
bars
Bruges, like all of Belgium, is famous for its beer. This is where the beer flows through the plumbing, it's not a joke, google it! Don't chase the hyped places, trust your intuition, just look at the nearest bar. Talk to the locals and find out what they like and recommend. If you get on a big connoisseur, they will add a couple of drops of essential oil to your beer, and in one glass you will taste 2 different quality beers, so do not give up on experiments. But if you are still afraid to make a mistake, here are a couple of proven places.
"Anti-tourist" bar Cafe "t Stokershuis (Langestraat 7). It is not customary to make noise here, but friendly leisurely conversations over a glass of beer are welcome. One gets the impression that nothing has changed here since the 50s: the cat is faithfully guarding the bar counter, the menu is written by hand and the best, rare beers. Winning the owner's favor is not difficult, but it's better to say right away that you are a tourist and a local friend recommended the place.
All Trappist beers (not only from Belgium) can be tasted at Cafe Rose Red (Cordoeaniersstraat 16) . This is a very touristy place next to the hotel, but there are always free places. Cozy atmosphere, live roses on the ceiling and interesting offers. For example, every month there is a special kind of beer, the recipe of which will not be saved later.
For a creative atmosphere, look at republicek (St-Jakobsstraat 36) .
Spacious youth bar with guys from Lumiere Cinema- Cinema of alternative films.
You can have a big party in the Belgian network Bar des Amis (Eiermarkt 19). Loud music, a lot of young people, there are concerts with local bands on weekends.
The above does not mean that wine lovers will have nothing to do in Bruges. A quality wine bar is not too hard to find. One of the best Wijnbar EST (Braambergstraat 7). To say that the guys understand wines is an understatement. The choice is large, from ordinary glasses to bottles of fine varieties, and each choice is accompanied by a detailed story. One gets the impression that he attended a master class at a well-known winemaking school.
Popular place with delicious tapas
I believe that in half a day I walked around Bruges very carefully, which I told you about in the previous three stories. It remains to walk along the two main squares of the city with short sonorous names: Burg and Markt.
Bruges sightseeing map. This time I did not draw a route for walking around Bruges, because. there is quite a ridiculous distance between Markt and Burg.
Having descended back from the observation platform to the ground, we found ourselves in the courtyard of Belfort. It is somehow very remarkable and almost older than the tower itself. But there was no time to study it, because ...
Because for the second time in this story I crossed the bridge of St. John of Nepomuk and rushed to the Groninge Museum. There was nothing left before the box office closed. But not this time, formally I had time before five, and there were still ten minutes left, but the cash desk was already tightly closed. How glad my friend was that I did not torment him with the contemplation of Bosch! But nothing, in Brussels I then recouped.
Even to me, an extremely conservative person, Bruges seemed too correct, sterile, old-fashioned and boring. But in places it seemed that not everything was so hopeless.
Who is there at the windows?
Laugh, laugh, but at that moment I walked through the bridge of St. Jan Nepomuk already the third time. Do you think?
I didn’t quite figure out how this Czech saint ended up in Bruges, but it seems that he is considered the patron saint of bridges, so his installation in this place is quite understandable. By the way, it is always very easy to recognize this saint, only he is given five stars in place of the halo.
5 stars - gold or shining, five-pointed are usually located in place of the halo. Only the Virgin Mary (12) and St. Jan Nepomuk. They appeared at the place where the body of John of Nepomuk drowned. They also mean the word tacui - I was silent(the saint did not give away the secret of confession), they also resemble the 5 wounds of Christ.
Since we did not have time to visit the museum, we had to finish with a tour of the city. We have the last attraction of Bruges left - Burg square(Burge). Burg is the main square of the city (and not the Market Square), it was from here that the city started, here was the first castle of the local count.
The most conspicuous and beautiful building of Burg Square is the Gothic Bruges town hall. Unlike similar buildings on the Markt, everything here is real, the Middle Ages and all that. Well, except that the restorers have worked hard, because. The town hall suffered during the French Revolution.
A small and elegant building to the left of the Town Hall with gilding on the facade is an old court office. If the City Hall is Gothic, then the Chancellery of the early 16th century is already a transition to the Renaissance.
The facade of the Town Hall is richly decorated, only the statues in the niches are worth something. Probably, each statue depicts some real character in the history of Bruges?
Against the backdrop of the Town Hall in the corner of Burg Square, the most important building in the history of Bruges, the Basilica of the Holy Blood, is a little lost. According to legend, Count Diederik of Alsace, returning from the Crusades to Flanders, received on the day of the Nativity of Christ a few drops of the Holy Blood of Jesus Christ, which he presented to the city upon his return. In honor of this relic, a procession of the Holy Blood of Christ is organized every year in Bruges.
The second floor, where the relic of the Holy Blood is kept, was already closed, but the first floor was still allowed. By the way, the scenes with the relic in the film "Lie Down in Bruges" were filmed not in the basilica itself, but in the Jerusalem church.
The ground floor of the basilica is Romanesque, austere and modest, with a statue of a pelican in place of the altar. An ancient legend says that this bird intentionally injured itself in order to feed its chicks with its blood. This legend symbolized Jesus Christ, who shed His blood for the salvation of mankind.
Very revered in Bruges is the statue of Jesus on the Cold Stone or Ecce Homo "behold, the Man".
Here, a local purely Flemish sweet accidentally got into the picture Cuberdon, it is also called because of the characteristic shape simply nose. Sweets are poorly stored due to the liquid filling, so it is believed that they should only be eaten in Belgium.
What Cuberdons taste like - if you've eaten Korovka candy, you know they're hard on the outside and soft (or runny) on the inside. Here is the same thing, only the taste is not milky, but rich-bright raspberry. And the soft filling is rather not liquid, but jelly-like.
But I am indifferent to sweets, so I bought myself a waffle. Namely, a waffle, not a waffle, such are the costs of the tourist popularity of Bruges. The closer to the city center (and Burg is its very center) - the less waffles.
On the opposite side of the Town Hall on Burg Square there is a small park. Two hundred years ago, the beautiful Bruges Cathedral stood here, but it was destroyed during the French Revolution.
This concludes our tour of Bruges. But we decided to wander around the Market Square before dark and drink beer on it on the path, and already have dinner at, where in terms of food it seemed to me everything was cheaper and more interesting. Let me not write anything about Belfort? With him, everything is clear.
Opposite Belfort in 2015, such an interesting thing was installed. Firstly, it is mirrored, the area is displayed on its faces, secondly, it repeats the outlines of the tower itself, and thirdly, inside it ... there is a privacy room, where, judging by the sign, anyone can hide from crowds of tourists. I tried the door, but it was locked, obviously someone had already hidden there and did not want to get out back into the light.
But you can fuck up the bow to take a photo!
I have already written about this side of the Market Square in one of my stories.
I need to sum up some of my experience. Moreover, there is such a strange case here that I started for peace, and ended in good health. No, in fact, while I was selecting pictures for my stories, reading once again about the history of the city, its sights, somehow I was more imbued with the magic of Bruges than when I was walking around it.
I guess the main problem with my perception of Bruges is that it is not represented in any way in popular culture. The only exception is the film "Lie Down in Bruges", which, out of desperation, travel bloggers quote in every report on Bruges. Sorry, I couldn't resist either. But there's just nothing else. I skimmed over the once terribly popular novel " Dead Bruges", but this decadent rubbish is of little interest to a modern person, although in places it is beautifully written. That's all. Compare with the number of books, films, yes, just good guides to other popular tourist places. I'm silent about or, but take at least the same one, which, to me, seems objectively less beautiful than Bruges, but due to its hype in popular culture, is perceived quite differently.
What else didn't you like? Traditionally, the Flanders route includes Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges. And against the background of other cities from this four, Bruges, sorry, is the hole. There are practically no people outside a couple of tourist squares, this creates some kind of slightly dead impression. Where all the locals hang out is also not obvious. I suspect that after 10 o’clock there will even be nowhere to drink beer, this is not a cheerful and party Brussels or with its trendy cafes.
But beauty, I admit. I tried to demonstrate this throughout all four of my stories about a walk in Bruges. I hope it worked.
In the capital of West Flanders - Bruges, there are plenty of canals, and therefore obtaining the status of "Venice of the North" was predetermined. However, most often Bruges for tourists is the chocolate capital of Europe.
In 852, an ordinary event happened - the Flemish count Baldwin Eizenarm founded a settlement near the North Sea. Over time, the outlines of the coastline have changed a lot. Three channels remained from the old days - Ostend, Sluisky and Ghent. In the eleventh century, the city's port became international, helped in no small measure by the steady demand for high-quality Flemish wool.
The development of merchant shipping was prevented by a natural process - a change in the relief led to the shallowing of the canal connecting the city with the sea. In full, maritime status was restored in 1134 by natural means, which was facilitated by severe flooding.
From the thirteenth to the fourteenth century, Bruges gains fame as a European commercial and financial center. The price for popularity was the stratification of society, which periodically provoked various uprisings. In addition to internal strife, for most of the fourteenth century the Flemish and French kings shared power. By the beginning of the fifteenth century there were signs of some revival, but not for long; the separation of Belgium from the Netherlands provoked a new decline that dragged on for almost four hundred years.
Oddly enough, the British contributed to the revival of the city to a large extent. Making periodic trips to Waterloo, they constantly passed through the city, leading a semi-beggarly existence. Realizing that it was possible to turn around here, the British reached out to Belgium.
Although the rate of increase in tourist flow was slow, but by the beginning of the twentieth century it still became too large. A new port was required, the construction of which was begun by the Belgian king Leopold II of Saxony-Coburg. At the same time, a canal was laid to the new harbor - Zeebrugge.
Today's Bruges is perceived as a fairy tale. This is facilitated by its appearance - narrow streets, stone pavements and multi-colored stone facades. One of the main attractions is the Grote Markt market square with the former Belgian long-term construction - the Belfort tower.
Its construction began in the thirteenth century and was completed two centuries later. The bells located on the upper platform ring every hour, and each time a different melody is played. There is also the Basilica of the Holy Blood, built to store one of the Catholic relics. The building looks like a transitional form from Romanesque to Renaissance.
The most visited sights of Bruges are directly related to Catholicism. These include the Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God - the brightest example of Gothic architecture, as well as the hospital of St. John, founded in the twelfth century.
However, it would be wrong to perceive Bruges as one big architectural monument. First of all, the name of the city is associated with beer, chocolate and lace.
In Bruges, there are about fifty shops, the assortment of which is made up of lace products. Before World War II, there were about a hundred schools for training lacemakers in the city, at the present time only one operates.
As for chocolate, this product for Bruges is a fact of being. To see this, just go to one of the chocolate restaurants, or visit the Chocolate Museum.
Beer in Belgium is perceived in much the same way as in the Czech Republic. This is a national drink, the use of which has long been a natural process. If you try a new variety every day, then you need to settle in Bruges for about a year and a half.
For those who are going to visit the glorious city of Bruges, this post will be very useful. I'll digress a little from my personal diaries and do some socially useful work. Joke! But there is so much truth in it ... In general, let's decide where and what sights are in Bruges, which route is best to take a walk, what you must see in Bruges, and what you can skip. And here, many will find for themselves the answer to the question: “How many days to spend in Bruges?” For another question like “Is it worth going to Bruges”, I think the answer has long been 🙂
As soon as we arrived in Bruges, a guidebook in Russian was purchased at the nearest souvenir shop - a necessary and vital thing for those who prefer to explore the sights on their own while traveling. We will not retell the text of the guide here, we must respect the work of the creators, I will say one thing - it is written quite interestingly, there are many colorful photos, full of useful information. By Simon Sauer, cost about 7 euros.
For this post, I borrowed two maps of walking tours of the sights of Bruges from the guide, I think the authors will not mind much, given my feedback 🙂
So, two different routes. The first can be considered a "mandatory tourist program", the second - optional. We were in Bruges for three days, we had enough time to explore both routes and still have time to visit museums.
The first route "Famous Bruges" starts from the Markt and ends there.
However, if you arrived in Bruges for just one day, and even by train (central station, point 26 on the map), then start exploring the Cathedral of Sint-Salvador (27) and beyond. The route ends just at the station. However, everything is clearly visible on the map (the figure can be enlarged):
The second route "Little-known Bruges":
We also walked along the second route, which, perhaps, evokes less enthusiastic feelings, but nevertheless is also interesting and leaves a lot of impressions.
Well, now you know what to see in Bruges and what routes you should take a walk. How long to spend in Bruges? From one day to the rest of your life 🙂 I would personally advise to come for at least a couple of days.
Update! Continuation: Canal Walk and Belfort Watchtower
, Belgium: description, photo, location on the map, how to get
Historic city center of Bruges- a unique example of a medieval settlement, the most important part of the originality of the city. Bruges is not just one of the most beautiful historical cities in Belgium, but also a city that was once the commercial and cultural capital of Europe. It is included in 1000 popular places in the world according to our website.
This charming city with medieval buildings attracts tourists like a magnet.
Geographically, it is located about 100 km from Brussels. Trains to Bruges leave every 30 minutes from the capital's airport. Travel time is about 1.5 hours.
The architectural monuments of Bruges mean a lot both for Belgium and for the whole of Europe. Sometimes this city is called the "Second Venice". It does not have the notorious skyscrapers, modern autobahns and shopping centers. Filled with fabulous houses reminiscent of Flemish lace, it seems to be frozen in the 15th century. Numerous canals and narrow streets run along its perimeter.
Outwardly, it seems that the whole city is sleeping peacefully, except for the center. In the heart of the city, life is in full swing. Here are interested tourists, and medieval horse-drawn carts, and lively fairs on the Grote Markt, and annual festivals. Geographically, the historical center of Bruges is divided into two parts: Markt and Burg. If in one of them there are shopping arcades, then in the other there are objects of state importance.
One of the most interesting sights of the city is the Belfort Watch Tower (XIII century), 366 steps lead to the observation deck. Another popular attraction is the ancient Church of the Mother of God, which combines ancient elements with modern technology. It is noteworthy that the development of Flemish painting is closely connected with Bruges.
Attraction photo: Historic city center of Bruges
Historic city center of Bruges
Historic city center of Bruges
Belfort Bell Tower
The historic center of Bruges on the map:
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Bruges on the map of Belgium
City of Bruges, you look where it is Bruges, West Flanders, Belgium on a map of Belgium. Use the search to see another city on the world map.
