Sign in with Facebook"Canals...Amazing Churches...and Lots of Tourists.." Brugge by Greggor58
Brugge Travel Guide: 2,680 reviews and 7,153 photos
Brugge is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the country of Belgium.
Its history likely predates the Romans but for certain the first fortifications were built here AFTER Julius Caesar's conquest of the Menapii in the first century BC.
The inhabitants did not live by agriculture and fishing alone, they also traded with England and the rest of Gaul. About the middle of the 700's trade started with Scandinavia in Brugge and in fact the name Brugge comes from the Old Norse name..."Bryggja" which translates into landing.
Brugge has a long tradition of international port activity and the oldest trade settlement of Brugge was accessible from the sea until around 1050...
In the eleventh century Brugge had expanded to become a commercial center for Europe.
By the Middle ages Flanders was then one of the most urbanized areas in Europe and Flemish cloth, a high quality woolen cloth was exported to the whole of Europe from Brugge...
These are essentially the beginnings of how Brugge came to be...
Ill quote the Unesco page about the historic town center...
"Brugge is an outstanding example of a medieval historic settlement, which has maintained its historic fabric as this has evolved over the centuries, and where original Gothic constructions form part of the town's identity. As one of the commercial and cultural capitals of Europe, Brugge developed cultural links to different parts of the world. It is closely associated with the school of Flemish Primitive painting."
"Justification for Inscription"
"Criterion ii: The Historic Town of Brugge is testimony, over a long period, of a considerable exchange of influences on the development of architecture, particularly in brick Gothic, as well as favoring innovative artistic influences in the development of medieval painting, being the birthplace of the school of the Flemish Primitives."
"Criterion iv: The Historic Town of Brugge is an outstanding example of an architectural ensemble, illustrating significant stages in the commercial and cultural fields in medieval Europe, of which the public, social, and religious institutions are a living testimony."
"Criterion vi: The town of Brugge has been the birthplace of the Flemish Primitives and a center of patronage and development of painting in the Middle Ages with artists such as Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling."
I arrived here after spending a week in rural Switzerland with friends that live about forty five minutes outside of Bern...
I traveled from Bern through Paris and through Brussels and in fact my first visit in Belgium was to be the town of Ieper...I spent three nights in and around Ieper and then moved up to Brugge by an easy train journey that lasted maybe an hour and a half...I needed to change trains in Kortrijk..an easy change....I didn't even have to change platforms..
The pace and scale of the city was a little intimidating at first...I had started this journey in the country side of Switzerland and then to a larger and more populated area in Ieper [in fact a rural setting also] and now Brugge...it was like walking into a cauldron actually...and I wasn't really comfortable with it.
I spent three days here...wandering around the old city...I connected with a Tour guide ...Theresa...arranged through the Brugge tourism office..the first afternoon that I arrived...
The following morning I connected with a bike tour group called Quasimundo Bike Tours...I spent two and a half hours cycling around the cobbled stones of Brugge's roadways...and saw some things that I likely wouldn't have seen otherwise.I met a couple from San Fransisco and had a few laughs along the way with Denis the guide..
My remaining time in Brugge I spent walking and exploring and taking photos,talking to people here and there...I found GREAT art and an AMAZING exhibit about Charles the Bold...and some really amazing architecture , some really interesting museums...and PLENTY of tourists !!!
I ran into a glitch while uploading some images to a portable storage device that I use when I'm traveling.....I LOST about 100 images including the best of Brugge...This is the first time Ive ever encountered this ... I'm still trying to get over it... : O [
I also encountered a man outside of the Beguinage...close to the Minnewater that Ill remember and feel sorry for forever....He was taking pictures of two women in front of a really beautiful setting..and I offered to take the picture with the three of them together..he wagged his finger at me saying no..he was pretty rude and condescending..I figured that he thought it was some type of scam..so VERY sad that he couldn't identify a simple gesture of kindness... : O [
I'm not too sure that I would ever venture back again..Its certainly a beautiful city..BUT...I found it kind of touristy and I really didn't enjoy the crowds..Like everything I suppose..there are certainly things that I liked about it....and things that I didn't like about it
- Pros:Beautiful art and buildings....
- Cons:Tooooo many people for my liking...
Reviews (16)
Behind the Grand Walls...Grootseminarie...
Off The Beaten Path
(3)
I was introduced to the serene and beautiful kept lawns and trees of the Seminary of Brugge while on the cycle tour with... more travel advice
Museum Brugge.. Arentshuis..
Things to Do
(8)
This nice little gallery is housed in what once was a mansion built in the 1700's....and houses a permanent exhibition... more travel advice
The Beguinage of Brugge..."De Wijngaard"
Things to Do
(8)
I visited here early during my stay in Brugge...my guide Therese made it an earlier stop in our walking tour...I was... more travel advice
"Charles the Bold"...Groeninge Museum...
Things to Do
(8)
This is a SPECIAL Exhibit that is running only until the 21st of July...Please Please Please make this a must see if... more travel advice
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Comments (9)
Very nice page! I'm hoping to capitalize with a business stop in Belgium on my way to Spain. You've been busy reading my Korea pages again! I've spent a few days in both Yeosu and Andong, both winter and summer. I'd say ~2 days each would be sufficient.
A great page full of interesting info about the history and the present days of Brugge. What a pity the trip was spoilt a bit by the incident with the 'unappreciated photo favour'.
Bien fait - chapeau!
Thanks for visiting my Bangkok page. Have just visited Brugge and wished I had a lot more time there, 3 days like you had would have been great, and you had time to do & see different things! Sorry about your photos, lost mine once, so know how it feels.
Hey Greg, you managed to put together a great travel page despite missing 100+ photos, well done! I think I'd be willing to face the crowds to see some of what you've seen, you've got some fascinating tips on here!
Good page & useful Tips. This was the very first place I visited with my husband; we loved it but have not been back for some time. So lreally ooking forward to another visit in July!
I love Bruges.....Very nice city. Peter
Hey Greggor goes to Brugge. You're brave to stay in leper. The cycling sounds fun. Love the stone! I hear you about crowds.
Sorry to hear about your lost photo's. Bugger! Nice page! xxx