Information About Bruges
Bruges is one of the oldest cities in Belgium dating from Roman times and flourishing during its ‘Golden Age’ from the 12th to the 15th century.
Built on a series of circular canals it retains many of its old buildings, streets and squares.
This is a very popular tourist destination because of its beauty and historic interest, and its streets are bustling, especially during the summer months.
The nearby fishing port of Zeebrugge ensures that Bruges restaurants always have fresh fish dishes on the menu.
Size, Population and Language
Bruges is a fairly compact city with a population of about 120,000.
The main language spoken here is Flemish (a variant of Dutch), but French and German are also common. Many shops and businesses have someone who speaks English well.
Landmarks of Bruges
This is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe and has numerous interesting historical buildings throughout its old streets and squares.
The Basilica of the Holy Blood, Old St. John’s Hospital, Saint Salvator’s Cathedral, the Groeningemuseum and the City Hall are among the more interesting.
The Belfry is now probably the most recognised landmark in the city, having featured in the movie ‘In Bruges‘.
Click here for more views of Bruges Belgium:
What to Do
Bruges is all about visiting historical buildings and museums, shopping and eating.
- Take a walking tour. This is one of the best ways to see the city. There are many good guides available who will lead you to all the important spots
- Take a boat tour down the canals. You can catch canal tours from Huidenvettersplein for a journey lasting 30 minutes with great views of the city.
- At the northeastern end of the town, there are four 18th-century windmills. The Koeleweimolen and Sint-Janshuismolen mills are still grinding grain.
- Visit the Basilica of the Holy Blood, where a phial made of rock crystal filled with blood was brought to the city by Thierry of Alsace after Second Crusade and is believed to contain the blood of Jesus Christ.
- Markt, or Market Square in the centre of the city, is surrounded by the most colourful buildings, with lots of interesting shops, cafes and restaurants.
- Visit the Groeninge Museum, which houses an impressive collection of paintings by many great masters, including Jan van Eyck, Hans Memling, Hugo van der Goes, Gerard David, and Hieronymus Bosch.
- Take a spin in a horse-drawn carriage the central square for an easy tour of the old city.
Food of Bruges
Like other parts of Belgium, Bruges loves its food. Eating out in the centre of Bruges can be fairly expensive but it is possible to find some good places to eat reasonably.
Waffles and fries are to be found everywhere, and of course chocolate, which is not just used as a sweet but also for cooking in many dishes. There are lots of chocolate shops on the streets of Bruges.
Mussels and meatballs are other iconic Bruges dishes.
Note: For really good fries, get them from the food stalls in front of the Belfry!