"Bruges (Brugge)" a Brugge Travel Page by grayfo

Bruges, or Brugge in Flemish is a Belgian city with a potent mix of past and present, the capital of the Belgian province of West-Flanders; it is the jewel in Belgium's crown, a treasure-trove of gables, gilded figures and cobbled streets. The old town with its network of canals is a step back in time, it retains a medieval atmosphere reminiscent of the time when it was one of Europe's greatest trade centres and thought of as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is rich in architectural and artistic treasures, graced by quiet canals and waterways. Bruges is known as the 'Venice of the north'. A Unesco world heritage site, this is a city that has maintained its past. But Bruges also lives for the present, too, with a reputation for great food and beer.