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.
Brujas (en flamenco Brugge, en francés Bruges) es una ciudad belga. Es la capital de la provincia de Flandes Occidental. Situada en el extremo noroeste de Bélgica a 90 kilómetros de la capital Bruselas, cuenta en su núcleo urbano con una población de 117. 000 habitantes.
Su nombre proviene del noruego antiguo "Bryggia" (puentes, muelles, atracaderos). Es interesante destacar que en el idioma flamenco/neerlandés Brug significa "puente", y que esta ciudad ostenta como nombre el plural de esta palabra debido a la gran cantidad de puentes que en ella existen.
El mayor atractivo de Brujas es su casco histórico declarado Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la Unesco en el año 2000. Aunque en gran parte reconstruido, dicho centro urbano es uno de los más grandes atractivos europeos, ya que mantiene intactas las estructuras arquitectónicas medievales. Al igual que Ámsterdam y Estocolmo, entre otras, Brujas es conocida como la Venecia del norte debido a la gran cantidad de canales que atraviesan la ciudad, y a la belleza de los mismos.
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