Beautiful Bruges

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By David Powell

After recently watching the dvd ‘In Bruges’, starring Colin Farrel and Ralph Fiennes, I decided to review Bruges as a short break destination. Most people I had spoken to who had visited were full of compliments about the city. This spurred me on to follow in Colin and Ralph’s footsteps!

Getting There

There are a number of ways to reach Bruges . I decided to take the easy option - a Eurostar train from Ebbsfleet direct to Brussels and onward by train. I still marvel at the speed and excellence of the Eurostar service - a stress free way to travel, watching the countryside pass your window as your train zooms right into the heart of Brussels, or to be more precise, Brussels Midi, which the helpful receptionist at the Eurostar desk informed me was one of three main stations and stood for Brussels South. ‘Hang on to your ticket’ was another very useful piece of advice as the ticket price includes an onward domestic journey to one destination, in my case, Bruges . The connection was straight forward and before long I had arrived at Belgium’s most visited city.

Accommodation

Whether you decide to visit for several days or longer, there are over 120 hotels in the area, so plenty to choose from. I stayed in the Hotel Alegria, a delightful, boutique style hotel run by the De Muynck family. Mother, Father and Veroniqué offer bed and breakfast facilities in an ideal, centrally located position, just 100 metres from the main Market Square . The hotel has just six rooms, but each have been tastefully designed by an interior designer. There’s an accessory gift shop to the front of the hotel, a secluded garden area, private secure parking and Veroniqué offers a range of beauty treatments in a small salon to the rear.

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Main Attractions

Bruges is a wonderfully preserved medieval city with some of the most beautiful examples of Gothic architecture in Europe . Bruges was awarded Unesco World Heritage status in 2000 which added to its popularity with tourists. Surrounded and criss-crossed with canals, this is a compact city, often referred to as the Venice of the North and is best explored on foot. All the major attractions can be found within the old city walls and you’ll find plenty to see and do. Bruges is famous for… architecture, culture, monuments, museums and of course, chocolate! You can stroll through the quaint, quiet cobbled streets and just pop into one of the many museums to discover the history of this city. The Bruges Diamond Museum takes you on a fascinating trip as the oldest diamond centre in Europe, whereas the Sint-Jan’s Hospital Museum boasts eight centuries of history, where nuns and monks cared for pilgrims, travellers and the sick. Here you’ll find an impressive collection of works of art in the medieval wards and church.

A boat trip along the canals is a must. There are five easily accessible places where you can board a boat for a pleasant 30 minute trip that allows you to admire the city from a completely different angle! I would suggest however, that you make this an early option – the crowds tend to build up, particularly after midday. Cycling is another popular way to get around but bear in mind that it may be rather bumpy riding over the cobblestones! There are a number of bicycle rental points in the city, including one at the main railway station.

As you walk through Bruges you can’t fail to notice the wonderful aroma of chocolate. There are over 40 chocolate shops and a chocolate museum. I was fortunate to be able to visit behind the scenes at the Chocolaterie Sukerbuyc, a small family business, centrally situated at Katelijnestraat where chocolates of all descriptions and sizes were being made. Situated immediately across the street is the family’s Tea Room where you can get down to some serious chocolate tasting washed down with tea or for the really serious chocoholic – a cup of hot chocolate!

The Market Square (Markt) is the acknowledged central point of Bruges and it’s from here you can explore the modern shopping district or take a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride through the historic, winding streets during which the coachman will normally point out landmarks of interest.

Eating Out

Whether you want a quick snack, lunch at a pavement cafe or dinner in a fine restaurant, you’ll find a wide range of eating places virtually around every corner. There’s nothing more relaxing than watching the world go by at a pavement bistro with a glass of the locally brewed beer called Brugse Zot. Brewed in the centre of Bruges , the De Halve Maan family brewery has been established since 1856 and daily organised trips are available. If you want to ‘splash out’ on a romantic dinner for two, I found the Raymond Brasserie just off the Market Square which offers exceptionally fine dining and excellent service.

Whether visiting for culture, a romantic, relaxing break, or a bit of both, Bruges is a beautiful, short break destination.

Saw the film, took the break! David Powell travel journalist

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