ECT22047
Belgium, Bruges
Bruges is a city to fall in love with! And the good news is that “The Venice of the North”, one of the most visited medieval cities in Europe, is easily accessible on foot! Well preserved cobbled lanes and picturesque canals, photogenic market squares lined with majestic towers, historic churches and old almshouses. Pass the City Theater, or Saaihalle, Huis ter Beurze, the first Stock Exchange, and the Toll House. A must-see is the Church of Our Lady, whose brick spire reaches 122.3 meters, making it one of the world’s highest brick towers/buildings. The sculpture Madonna and Child, which can be seen in the transept, is Michelangelo’s only sculpture to have left Italy within his lifetime. Discover another gem, the Burg, one of the most charming squares in town, including the grand Brugse Vrije, the city’s medieval control center, and the Stadhuis, with its stunning Gothic Hall. See the Heilig-Bloedbasiliek, the Basilica of the Holy Blood, which houses a relic – a vial of blood that is said to be that of Jesus, as well as a lavish treasury. Make a brief stop at St. John’s Hospital, one of the oldest preserved hospital buildings in Europe. Not to miss is also Grote Markt, where you can have some free time to taste the famous chocolate or sample a pint of the amazing local beers. Explore its historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, discover its charm and see its major historic attractions in one of the most beautiful cities in Belgium.
Market Square (Grote Markt) with the Belfort
Lake of love
Walplein Square
Stoofstraat
Old St. John’s Hospital
Church of Our Lady
Dijver Canal
Rozenhoedkaai
Tanners Square
The Burg Square with its Gothic Town Hall
The Basilica of the Holy Blood
History and origins of the city
Legends and myths of Bruges
Importance as a Hanseatic City
Treasures of Church of Our Lady, including the tomb of Charles the Bold, last Valois Duke of Burgundy and sculpture of the Madonna and Child created by Michelangelo
Cultural scene of the city
