Belgium > West Flanders > Bruges
Bruges
N 51°12.527', E 3°13.467'
2014-10-03
https://bezoekers.brugge.be/en
Our rating: 8.80
Overall rating: - Rate this place - 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Bruges is the most beautiful Belgian city. If you have only one day in Belgium, spend it here. The city has many water canals and this gives it a special flavor. The best pictures can be taken on the banks of the canals.
Bruges ©Yuriy Buriak
Bruges ©Yuriy Buriak
Bruges looks better in the evening when the sun illuminates the beautiful old houses and daily tourists have already gone. Streets become empty, quiet and extremely comfortable.
Bruges ©Yuriy Buriak
Bruges ©Yuriy Buriak
Bruges ©Yuriy Buriak
Bruges ©Yuriy Buriak
Bruges ©Yuriy Buriak
Old town in Bruges is quite large (2x3 km) and clearly limited by channels, so do not forget a map. Here you can wander all the day long as we did. Some places look just like on the pictures from the past.
Walplein square ©Yuriy Buriak
Bruges ©Yuriy Buriak
There are pleasure boats on the channels, but we were quite satisfied with walking tour.
Bruges ©Yuriy Buriak
The main square of the city.
Market Square in Bruges ©Yuriy Buriak
Market Square in Bruges ©Yuriy Buriak
Belfort tower ©Yuriy Buriak
Bruges ©Yuriy Buriak
Belfort is the symbol of the city, it was built in 1240, andexpanded as a result of reconstruction in 1483-87. There is a viewing platform on top.
Belfort tower ©Yuriy Buriak
On the Market square there are colorful houses with restaurants where we had lunch. A set menu for 17-30 euros is usual for Belgium. You can find cheaper, but not in the center.
Bruges ©Yuriy Buriak
Burg square is located next to the Market square. Long time ago there was a castle, but it was destroyed. Accordingly, Bruges was founded on this place. On the square stands the Town Hall and Basilica of the Holy Blood (entrance is free).
Basilica of the Holy Blood on Burg Square ©Yuriy Buriak
Near the Town Hall find a balcony, traditional for medieval cities in Europe.
Bruges ©Yuriy Buriak
Artist draws kittens
Bruges ©Yuriy Buriak
Since the channels are everywhere, many houses stand on the water, like in Venice.
Bruges ©Yuriy Buriak
Logic says that this is sculpture 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Actually, if it has different title, the architect made a mistake.
4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse ©Yuriy Buriak
There are religious sculpture over many doorways which are typical for Belgium.
Bruges ©Yuriy Buriak
The famous Flemish painter of 15th century Jan van Eyck died in Bruges.
Jan van Eyck Monument ©Yuriy Buriak
Sheels can be seen in many places. It is the symbol of Saint James, the patron saint of travelers.
Bruges ©Yuriy Buriak
Always pay attention to small things around you.
Bruges ©Yuriy Buriak
The city has two large religious structures. Church of Our Lady is known for sculpture of the Virgin and Child by Michelangelo, the only such sculpture outside Italy.
Church of Our Lady ©Yuriy Buriak
Bruges ©Yuriy Buriak
Nearby stands the St. Salvator's Cathedral, which was built in 1116-18. It is decorated with paintings by famous artists of the past.
St. Salvator's Cathedral ©Yuriy Buriak
Map of the old town in Bruges ©brugge.be
This and other maps of Bruges in PDF can be downloaded here . In the city was filmed quite a famous film "In Bruges" (2008). Here you can download a map in PDF (5 Mb) with the places shown in the film. Getting to Bruges: the easiest way by train as train service is very well developed in Belgium. Travel time from Brussels 1:00, from Antwerp 1:20, from Ghent 0:20.
Tags, Belgium: city Tags, all countries: city
- Rate this place -
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Our rating - 8.80
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Visitor's rating - 0.00
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help