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Insight Guides Explore Bruges (Travel Guide eBook)
Insight Guides Explore Bruges (Travel Guide eBook)
Insight Guides Explore Bruges (Travel Guide eBook)
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Insight Guides Explore Bruges (Travel Guide eBook)

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Insight Guides Explore Bruges

Travel made easy. Ask local experts.  
Focused travel guide featuring the very best routes and itineraries.

Discover the best of Bruges with this unique travel guide, packed full of insider information and stunning images. From making sure you don't miss out on must-see, top attractions like De Halve Maan, Flanders Fields Museum and Astrid Park to discovering cultural gems, including seeing the work of the Flemish Primitives, cruising along the canal network or taking a tour in one of Bruges' iconic fiacres, the easy-to-follow, ready-made walking routes will save you time, and help you plan and enhance your visit to Bruges.

Features of this travel guide to Bruges:
15 walks and tours: detailed itineraries feature all the best places to visit, including where to eat and drink along the way
Local highlights: discover the area's top attractions and unique sights, and be inspired by stunning imagery
Historical and cultural insights: immerse yourself in Bruges's rich history and culture, and learn all about its people, art and traditions
Insider recommendations: discover the best hotels, restaurants and nightlife using our comprehensive listings
Practical full-colour map: with every major sight and listing highlighted, the full-colour maps make on-the-ground navigation easy
- Key tips and essential information: packed full of important travel information, from transport and tipping to etiquette and hours of operation
Covers: City highlights; The Three Towers; Around the Burg; Markt to the Museums; Memling to the Beguinage; Sint-Anna; Fish market to Astrid Park; Merchants' Quarter; Langerei and St Giles; Princes' Court and Donkey Gate; Around 't Zand; Damme; Ostend; Ypres; Ghent 

Looking for a comprehensive guide to Belgium? Check out Insight Guides Belgium for a detailed and entertaining look at all the country has to offer.

About Insight Guides: Insight Guides is a pioneer of full-colour guide books, with almost 50 years' experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides with user-friendly, modern design. We produce around 400 full-colour print guide books and maps as well as phrase books, picture-packed eBooks and apps to meet different travellers' needs. Insight Guides' unique combination of beautiful travel photography and focus on history and culture create a unique visual reference and planning tool to inspire your next adventure.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateApr 1, 2020
ISBN9781839052385
Insight Guides Explore Bruges (Travel Guide eBook)
Author

Insight Guides

Insight Guides wherever possible uses local experts who provide insider know-how and share their love and knowledge of the destination.

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    Book preview

    Insight Guides Explore Bruges (Travel Guide eBook) - Insight Guides

    How To Use This E-Book

    This Explore Guide has been produced by the editors of Insight Guides, whose books have set the standard for visual travel guides since 1970. With ­top-­quality photography and authoritative recommendations, these guidebooks bring you the very best routes and itineraries in the world’s most exciting destinations.

    Best Routes

    The routes in this book provide something to suit all budgets, tastes and trip lengths. As well as covering the destination’s many classic attractions, the itineraries track lesser-known sights, and there are also ex­cursions for those who want to extend their visit outside the city. The routes embrace a range of interests, so whether you are an art fan, a gourmet, a history buff or have kids to entertain, you will find an option to suit.

    We recommend reading the whole of a route before setting out. This should help you to familiarise yourself with it and enable you to plan where to stop for refreshments – options are shown in the ‘Food and Drink’ box at the end of each tour.

    Introduction

    The routes are set in context by this introductory section, giving an overview of the destination to set the scene, plus background information on food and drink, shopping and more, while a succinct history timeline highlights the key events over the centuries.

    Directory

    Also supporting the routes is a Directory chapter, with a clearly organised A–Z of practical information, our pick of where to stay while you are there and select restaurant listings; these eateries complement the more low-key cafés and restaurants that feature within the routes and are intended to offer a wider choice for evening dining. Also included here are some nightlife listings, plus a handy language guide and our recommendations for books and films about the destination.

    Getting around the e-book

    In the Table of Contents and throughout this e-book you will see hyperlinked references. Just tap a hyperlink once to skip to the section you would like to read. Practical information and listings are also hyperlinked, so as long as you have an external connection to the internet, you can tap a link to go directly to the website for more information.

    Maps

    All key attractions and sights mentioned in the text are numbered and cross-referenced to high-quality maps. Wherever you see the reference [map] just tap this to go straight to the related map. You can also double-tap any map for a zoom view.

    Images

    You’ll find lots of beautiful high-resolution images that capture the essence of the destination. Simply double-tap on an image to see it full-screen.

    © 2020 Apa Digital (CH) AG and Apa Publications (UK) Ltd

    Table of Contents

    Recommended Routes For...

    Art enthusiasts

    Escaping the crowds

    Children

    Food and drink

    Green spaces

    Historians

    Rainy days

    Romantic Bruges

    Explore Bruges

    Geography

    History

    Golden Age

    Decline

    Modern era

    Climate

    Politics and economics

    Flemish autonomy

    Devolution

    People

    Food and drink

    Local cuisine

    Where to eat

    Restaurants

    Brasseries

    Bars and cafés

    Tearooms

    Drinks

    Beer

    Genever

    Mineral water

    Tea and coffee

    Shopping

    Shopping areas

    Beer

    Chocolate

    Lace

    Books, music and art

    Fashion and design

    Entertainment

    Music

    Classical

    Carillon

    Contemporary, rock and jazz

    Theatre and dance

    Film

    Nightlife

    History: Key Dates

    Early period to the Middle Ages

    Burgundian rule to the Enlightenment

    Modern era

    Post-war, Europe and Federalisation

    City Highlights

    Markt

    Burg

    Jan van Eyckplein

    Groenerei

    Tanners’ Square

    Dijver

    Mariastraat

    Walplein

    Beguinage

    St Saviour’s Cathedral

    ’t Zand

    The Three Towers

    Belfry

    The climb

    St Saviour’s Cathedral

    Interior

    Treasury Museum

    Church of Our Lady

    Church museum

    Around the Burg

    City Hall

    Basilica of the Holy Blood

    Story of the relic

    Basilica Museum

    Liberty of Bruges Palace

    Renaissance Hall

    St Donatian’s

    Refreshment options

    Chocolate museum

    St Walburga’s Church

    Inside the church

    On to St Anne’s

    Markt to the Museums

    Markt

    Market Halls

    Provincial House

    Guildhouses and mansions

    Military Chapel

    Dijver

    Groeninge Museum

    Flemish Primitives

    Renaissance

    17th and 18th centuries

    19th century

    20th century

    Arentshuis

    Gruuthuse

    Memling to the Beguinage

    Archaeology Museum

    Hospital Museum – Memling in St John’s

    Walplein

    Beguinage

    Beguinage enclosure

    Beguine’s House Museum

    Beguinage Church

    Minnewater

    Powder Tower

    Minnewater Park

    De Vos Almshouse

    Diamond Museum

    More almshouses

    Sint-Anna

    Sint-Anna

    Jerusalem Church

    Lace Centre

    Museum of Folklore

    English Convent

    St Sebastian Archers’ Guild

    St John’s House Mill

    Holy Cross Gate

    Guido Gezelle Museum

    Café Vlissinghe

    Fish Market to Astrid Park

    Fish Market

    Rosary Quay

    Tanners’ Square

    Groenerei

    Along the Coupure

    Bistro option

    Conzett Bridge

    Ghent Gate

    Astrid Park

    Merchants’ Quarter

    City Theatre

    Merchants’ houses

    Fries Museum

    Ter Beurze House

    Venetian and Florentine Houses

    Jan van Eyckplein

    Old Customs House

    Spiegelrei and Spinolarei

    De Rode Steen House

    Spanish Quay

    Augustinians’ Bridge

    Phantom House

    Bladelin Court

    Langerei and St Giles

    Potterierei

    Episcopal Seminary

    Our Lady of the Pottery

    Dampoort

    Koelewei Mill

    Langerei

    St Giles

    St Giles Church

    Gouden-Handrei

    Princes’ Court and Donkey Gate

    Muntplein

    Princes’ Court

    Court history

    Minstrels’ Chapel

    Hof Sebrechts Park

    Pastor Van Haecke Garden

    Ezelstraat

    Carmelite Church

    St James’s Church

    Around ‘t Zand

    ’t Zand

    Sculpture fountain

    Concert Hall

    Our Lady of the Blind

    Blacksmith’s Gate

    Nieuw Waterhuis

    Boeveriestraat

    Damme

    Town Hall

    Tijl Uilenspiegel Museum

    Herring Market

    St John’s Hospital

    Church of Our Lady

    Old ramparts

    Ostend

    Museum Ship Amandine

    Visserskaai

    Fish Market

    Around Langestraat

    Museum of Local History

    James Ensor House

    Casino Kursaal

    Albert I-Promenade

    Royal Ostend

    Museum by the Sea

    Leopoldpark

    Wapenplein

    Church of SS Peter and Paul

    Marina

    Ypres

    Grote Markt

    Cloth Hall

    In Flanders Fields Museum

    St Martin’s Cathedral

    St George’s Church

    Menin Gate

    Ramparts

    Ramparts Cemetery

    City Museum

    Ypres Salient

    Sanctuary Wood and Hill 62

    Passchendaele Museum

    Tyne Cot

    German Soldiers’ Cemetery

    Ghent

    St Nicholas Church

    Belfry

    Cloth Hall

    St Bavo’s Cathedral

    Mystic Lamb

    Vrijdagmarkt

    Jacob van Artevelde Statue

    Guildhouses

    Socialist headquarters

    Patershol District

    Folklore Museum

    Castle of the Counts

    Design Museum

    Korenlei and Graslei

    St Michael’s Church

    Accommodation

    Bed and breakfast

    Centre

    South

    West

    North

    East

    Bruges outskirts

    Ghent

    De Haan

    Ostend

    Restaurants

    Centre

    South

    West

    North

    East

    Damme

    Ostend

    Ypres

    Ghent

    Nightlife

    Music, theatre and dance

    Film

    Nightlife

    Festivals (in date order)

    A-Z

    A

    Admission charges

    Age restrictions

    B

    Budgeting

    C

    Children

    Climate and clothing

    Crime and safety

    Customs

    E

    Electricity

    Embassies and consulates

    Emergencies

    Etiquette

    G

    Green issues

    Carbon-offsetting

    H

    Health

    Healthcare and insurance

    Pharmacies and hospitals

    Telemedicine

    Hours and holidays

    I

    Internet facilities

    L

    Language

    Left luggage

    LGBTQ

    Lost property

    M

    Maps

    Media

    Print media

    Radio

    Television

    English-language publications

    Money

    Currency

    Credit cards

    Cash machines

    Tipping

    Taxes

    P

    Post

    Public holidays

    R

    Religion

    S

    Smoking

    Student travellers

    T

    Telephones

    Mobile (cell) phones

    Time zones

    Toilets

    Tourist information

    Tours and guides

    Bike tours

    Canal rides

    Horse-drawn carriages

    Bruges–Damme by paddle-steamer

    Battlefield tours

    Transport

    Airports and arrival

    By sea

    By rail

    By road

    Public transport

    Travellers with disabilities

    V

    Visas and passports

    W

    Women

    Language

    Useful phrases

    General

    On arrival

    Sightseeing

    Emergencies

    Dining out

    Shopping

    Days of the week

    Numbers

    Online

    Social media

    Menu reader

    Appetizers

    Fish

    Meat and poultry

    Vegetables

    Fruit

    Cheese

    Dessert

    Books and Film

    Books

    Early writers and dramatists

    Pre-20th century

    20th century and beyond

    Film

    Recommended Routes For...

    Art enthusiasts

    Admire Flemish Primitives, Bosch and the Symbolists at the Groeninge (route 4), see Hans Memling’s work in St John’s Hospital (route 5), and marvel at van Eyck’s altarpiece in Ghent (route 15).

    Gregory Wrona/Aps Publications

    Escaping the crowds

    Follow the lapping waters of the Langerei to the charming museum of Our Lady of the Pottery church (route 9), wander the district west of ’t Zand (route 11) or cycle up the canal to peaceful Damme (route 12).

    Gregory Wrona/Apa Publications

    Children

    Wander along canals past fishermen and houseboats on the way to the Astrid Park (route 7), visit the adorable Museum of Folklore (route 6) or take to the beach at Ostend (route 13).

    Glyn Genin/Apa Publications

    Food and drink

    Chocoholics will get a tasty treat at Choco-Story (route 3), while beer-lovers should sample the only beer still brewed in Bruges at the Half Moon Brewery (route 5). For seafood, nothing beats Ostend (route 13).

    Glyn Genin/Apa Publications

    Green spaces

    Discover a real secret garden, the Hof Sebrechts Park (route 10), enjoy a picnic in the shade at tranquil Astrid Park (route 7) or explore a village surrounded by green fields and polder in Damme (route 12).

    iStock

    Historians

    Stalk the haunts of medieval merchants (route 8), inspect the crusader’s trophy that inspires religious devotion at the Basilica of the Holy Blood (route 3) or revisit the tragedy of World War I around Ypres (route 14).

    iStock

    Rainy days

    Situated side by side, the Groeninge and Arentshuis museums are ideal for an indoor day (route 4), or travel to Ypres, for the excellent In Flanders Fields and Sanctuary Wood museums (route 14).

    Bruges Tourism

    Romantic Bruges

    Watch swans glide over the mirror-like Minnewater, the ‘Lake of Love’ (route 5), or set out early to enjoy uninterrupted views from the Rozenhoedkaai and along leafy Groenerei (route 7).

    Bruges Tourism

    Explore Bruges

    Medieval Bruges is one of Europe’s most romantic destinations. Canals meander around gabled almshouses, Gothic churches, world-class art galleries and boutique hotels, all packaged in a central district less than 2km (1.25 miles) across.

    Bruges – Brugge to its residents – is a provincial town that hit the big time with its cloth trade in the Middle Ages, riding high for 400 years before sinking into oblivion, cut off from the world. Centuries on, 19th-century heritage enthusiasts chanced upon the time-capsule city and shook it from its Sleeping Beauty slumber, restoring it to a splendour that celebrates the Gothic and Baroque, Renaissance and modern.

    The city may live off its past but it is not content to reside there. A startlingly modern music venue, incessant property renovation, chic new restaurants and a lively programme of contemporary dance, experimental music and film disprove accusations that it is little more than a museum piece. Yes, tourism dominates the city, but it is fantastically easy to escape the crowds.

    The canals are just as atmospheric at night

    iStock

    Geography

    This city of around 117,000 people, 20,000 of whom live in the city centre, is located 11km (7 miles) from the North Sea coast and is the capital of West Flanders, a province that contains the entire 67km (42 miles) of Belgium’s coastline and is bordered by France, the Netherlands and the provinces of Hainaut (in French-speaking Wallonia) and East Flanders.

    With the reclaimed polders of the maritime plain to the north and west, and sandy pastoral land to the east and south, the municipality of Bruges includes three distinct areas: the historic centre (a Unesco World Heritage Site), contained by a 7km (4-mile) -long ring canal along the line of the former city walls; the suburbs, named after historic parishes situated outside the walls: Sint-Michiels, Sint-Andries, Sint-Jozef and so on; and a tongue of land stretching north to the sea, including the village of Lissewege and the port of Zeebrugge.

    As long as you are within the centre, and there is little reason to venture outside, the only sensible means of getting around is on foot or by bike.

    History

    The city grew up from a Gallo-Roman settlement, Bruggia, first mentioned in AD 851. It rose to prominence as a cloth town and trading hub, its weavers renowned for their skill in transforming English wool into the finest tapestries and garments in Europe.

    Fortunes waxed and waned with time and tides. Fierce coastal storms opened and closed the city’s access to the sea starting in the 11th century, when silting prevented ships from sailing directly into the centre. A flood in 1134 created a new sea route from the Zwin inlet to Damme, 7km (4 miles) to the north-east. Bruges made Damme its outer port, and dug canals to ferry goods to and from the city on small barges.

    The Procession of the Holy Blood occurs every year on Ascension day

    Bruges Tourism

    Golden Age

    From 1200–1400, the city was an important member of the Hanseatic League, a network of trading cities across Europe. Foreign merchants built grand consulates and settled here, trading metals, fur and wine for locally produced cloth. The city saw the birth of the world’s first stock exchange, and became a cultish place of pilgrimage, inspired by a supposed relic of Christ’s blood brought back from the Crusades (and still presented for veneration in a basilica built for the purpose). The Gothic City Hall and many churches and mansions survive from this period.

    Wealth and religious devotion promoted a flourishing artistic community: painters Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling made Bruges their home, catering to the court of the dukes of Burgundy, successors to the counts of Flanders and great patrons of the arts. Their rule was renowned as a period of refinement and festivities: banquets, tournaments and processions helped local craftsmen diversify into illuminated manuscripts, lace and other luxury items.

    Also noteworthy, the first printed book in English was produced in Bruges in 1473 by William Caxton for Margaret, duchess of Burgundy and sister of English kings Edward IV and Richard III.

    Decline

    Protracted conflicts between the royal houses of England and France eventually took their toll on a city ruled by the French yet dependent on English wool. The silting up of the sea-channel compounded disputes between the citizens and their rulers. By the early 16th century, Bruges was effectively cut off from the world. Courtiers and merchants abandoned the town, while religious wars and persecution forced many skilled craftsmen to flee.

    Disaster then has brought riches today, as centuries of decline left many historic monuments untouched. By the mid-18th century, the much-dwindled population survived by making lace, a cottage industry that was eventually decimated by industrialisation.

    Bruges rooftops and stepped gables

    iStock

    Modern era

    Belgian independence and the arrival of the railway brought early tourists travelling from Ostend to Brussels – many of them English people en route to the Waterloo battlefield – who came across this time-warped city. A heritage movement was launched, Gothic buildings and historic monuments were repaired, and the tourist industry took off.

    Climate

    Bruges has the warm summers and mild

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