Tours Brugge
What could be more romantic and inspiring than a place that looks like a fairy tale? Bruges’ medieval-looking cobblestone streets lead to numerous historical, architectural and artistic wonders. Admire the ornate houses along the branched canals, and you’ll understand why this is a favorite destination for all types of travelers. The entire city exudes an atmosphere of history, love of the modern and enthusiasm for the future. Visit Hof Bladelin, the Groeninge Museum, the Church of Our Lady, the bell tower and the market halls.
1. Belfry
The 83 meter high Belfry of Bruges, also called the Hall Tower, can be found on the Grote Markt and offers a beautiful view of the city. On the site of the building there used to be a number of halls where wool and sheets were traded. In the thirteenth century a stone tower with a wooden spire was built on the halls.
After a fire destroyed the entire complex, a new tower was built on the 13th-century foundations. The tower has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1999. Keep in mind that only a limited number of people can enter at a time and therefore you may have to wait a while.
2. The Burg
The Burg is a square where once the settlement of Bruges stood and is part of the oldest core of the city. In 864, a grave settlement was built here by order of Baudouin I with the Iron Arm against the Normans. The square originally had gates and was completely walled. Today, however, you will find mostly many beautiful buildings in Renaissance or Gothic style, such as the City Hall and the Basilica of the Holy Blood.
3. City Hall
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On the Burg is the City Hall of Bruges. The building was built around 1400 and is therefore one of the oldest town halls in the Netherlands and Belgium. Inside the building you will find many impressive nineteenth-century murals and in the Gothic hall visitors can admire a gold-colored vault.
4. St. Salvator’s Cathedral
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St. Salvator’s Cathedral in the oldest parish church in Bruges. Its construction already started in the twelfth century. Inside the church you will find a number of special art treasures, including a dock with organ and a large collection of paintings including paintings by the Flemish Primitives Dirk Bouts and Hugo van der Goes.
5. Jerusalem Church
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The Jerusalem Church is one of the few private churches in Belgium. The church was built in the fifteenth century after the ground plan of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The church of Bruges can be recognized by its austere medieval architectural style and the large sphere on the tower of the church topped with the cross of Jerusalem.
6. Basilica of the Holy Blood
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On the Burg next to the town hall stands the Basilica of the Holy Blood. The church owes its name to the Holy Blood of Jesus that is kept there. The Holy Blood is said to have been brought to the city by Diederik of Alsace, Count of Flanders. The building consists of two chapels, the Gothic upper chapel, the Basiulius Chapel, where the relic is kept, and the smaller Romanesque St. Ivo Chapel. Both were elevated to the status of basilica in 1923.
In addition to the relic of the Holy Blood, there are other special artifacts in the chapels. The impressive architecture is another reason not to skip the basilica when visiting Bruges. Also special to experience is the Procession of the Holy Blood that is held from the basilica on Ascension Day.
7. Jan Van Eyck Square
In the center of Bruges you will find the Jan van Eyck Square at the beginning of the Spiegelrei.
8. Beguinage
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The Beguinage is located at the Minnewaterpark. Surrounding the court are many picturesque white-painted houses built between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries. The beguinage itself was already built in 1245 by order of Margaret of Constantinople, Countess of Flanders. In the past, mainly women who had been cast out of society lived there and many of them dedicated their lives to God. Since 1927 the beguinage has again served as a convent and till today nuns still live there. A visit to one of the houses is possible.
9. Poortersloge
The Poortersloge can be found at the Jan van Eyckplein opposite the Old Tolhuis. The building dates from the fifteenth century and was used as a meeting and recreation place of the wealthy gatekeepers of Bruges. Since the nineteenth century, the historic monument has served as the state archives.
10. Bruges canals
The historic inner city of Bruges is veined with romantic canals. The city competes with Giethoorn to earn the nickname Venice of the North. You can’t visit Bruges without taking a boat trip on the network of canals. This way you can discover the beautiful city from the water while sailing under dozens of bridges. You’ll pass secret spots you would never have seen from the street side.
11. City Theatre
The old theater of Bruges was built in 1869 in Renaissance style and has room for about 700 people. The theater is one of the most important and best preserved city theaters in Europe. The theater is part of the Cultural Center Bruges, and productions are still regularly staged there. It hosts not only theater, but also dance performances and concerts.
12. Choco-Story Museum
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The museum is located in a fifteenth-century building that used to serve as the wine tavern Huis de Croone. Today the wine has made way for chocolate, and you can smell that immediately when you enter. The museum shows visitors how chocolate has developed over the centuries and how a chocolate bar is made from the cocoa bean. Of course, in between you can taste different kinds of chocolate!
13. The French fries museum
The Frietmuseum is the only museum in the world that tells the history of the national pride, the fries. In the museum you get to see how fries are made and you will be amazed at how many types of fries exist. And of course you get to taste them here too.
14. Minnewater Park
The Minnewater Park is located between the Central Station and the city center. It is without doubt one of the most romantic places in the city. The Minnewater used to serve as the city’s inner harbor, but nowadays there is no longer any sign of that. You will find a large park full of trees, nice walking paths and some cute bridges over the water. It is therefore the perfect place to unwind during your visit to Bruges.
15. Steenstraat
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Steenstraat is the largest and important shopping street of the city and is sometimes compared to the Meir of Antwerp. The shopping street starts at Bruges’ concert hall at ‘t Zand and runs up to the Grote Markt. Shoppers will find not only local stores, but also well-known expensive brands and stores from less pricey chains. Even if you are not planning to go shopping, it is recommended to walk through the street to see the beautiful facades .
16. The Chocolate Line
Chocolate lovers can not only visit the Choco-Story museum, but can also stop by The Chocolate Line. This chocolate store is one of the many chocolatiers in the city and can be found at the Simon-Stevinplein. Renowned chocolatier Dominique Persoone makes the most beautiful and delicious chocolate creations and there are always people staring at the window.
17. Concert Hall
The Concert Hall was opened in 2002, when Bruges was Cultural Capital of Europe. West Flanders used to have no venue where large orchestras and international companies could perform. An architectural competition was held and the design by architects Paul Robbrecht and Hilde Daem won the competition. The Concertgebouw is also home to the Bruges Tourist Office.
18. ‘t Zand
The first trains to Bruges, around 1840, arrived at ‘t Zand. Soon the first station building was too small. It was demolished and rebuilt in … Ronse, where it still stands today. A few years before World War II, the last train left from ‘t Zand. During major works in 2016, the large fountain that had stood here since 1986 was moved to Koning Albert I Park. The Historium was opened in 2012 and takes visitors back to the Middle Ages. During the tour of less than an hour you will pass 7 different rooms that make you relive the atmosphere of the 15th century. The guiding principle is the painting studio of Van Eyck. The story that is told in the Historium is made up, but all the scenery in which the story is projected is historically correct. The visit takes place in groups of maximum 20 people. The exit is via the Duvelorium, a beer bar where you can drink other Belgian beers besides Duvel. The Historium is located next to the Provincial Court, a neo-Gothic building that belonged to the Provincial Administration. . . . . The Arentshuis is an 18th century mansion that hosts temporary exhibitions on the ground floor. On the upper floor there is a permanent exhibition about Frank Brangwyn (1867-1956), a British artist with Bruges roots. He was not only a painter, but also designed ceramics, furniture and jewelry, among other things. . The Saint John’s Hospital is one of the oldest preserved hospital buildings in Europe. Today the building houses a museum about the hospital. The exhibition shows how the wards used to look like and you can visit the old pharmacy, the accompanying herb gardens and the Hospital Chapel. Art lovers will also find their way to the St. John’s Hospital. For there hangs a painting by the Flemish Primitive Hans Memling. . The Poertoren is a fortified tower dating from 1398. In 1477 it was converted into a gunpowder depot and workshop, hence its name, which has been preserved over the centuries. Once there was a second tower nearby but it has been demolished. Opposite the Poertoren you can see the oldest preserved photograph of Bruges on an information board. Here you can also read some more information about the Minnewater and its surroundings.
20. Fish Market
Just like centuries ago, fish is still sold in the covered fish market. Although in the meantime artists and jewelry stalls have also found their way here. Every morning from Monday to Saturday you can buy fresh fish at the fish market in Bruges. If you don’t feel like working with the fresh fish yourself, you can go for deliciously prepared fish dishes in the fish restaurants around the square or on the Huidevettersplein.21. Bridges in Bruges
Bruges is often called “the Venice of the North“, a title it owes to the large number of bridges the city center has. Do you have any idea how many there actually are? In the historic city center alone 43, in all of Bruges about 70.The oldest are the Peerdenbrug and the Meebrug. That seems a lot, but several other cities at home and abroad own more. Ghent, for example, has 125 and Venice has more than 400.22. Groeninge Museum
The Groeningemuseum is located on the Dijver and houses a magnificent collection of Flemish paintings from the period of the 15th to the 20th century.
The Gruuthuse Museum was once the palace of the lords of Gruuthuse. Now you can admire objects that refer to life between the 15th and 19th centuries, such as jewelry and kitchenware, but also a guillotine…24. Arents House
25. Church of Our Lady
You can’t look away from the 122 m high brick tower of the Our Lady’s Church. It is the second tallest brick building in the world. Construction of the church began as early as the 13th century. The church contains beautiful works of art of the highest level. The main attraction is the world famous white marble statue “Madonna and Child” by Michelangelo. In addition, the church also contains the palace tombs of Charles the Bold and Mary of Burgundy and a beautiful marble high altar.26. Old St. John’s Hospital
27. Brewery De Halve Maan
In Bruges you can taste a regional beer on a terrace, but you can also see how that regional beer is brewed in brewery De Halve Maan. At this home brewery you can take a tour of the brewery while learning more about the brewing process and the history of the brewery. De Halve Maan is the only family brewery in town that is still active and existed as early as the 16th century. The most famous beers brewed there are the Brugse Zot and the Straffe Hendrik. More info on the website28. Poertoren
