To Bruges and Back

The next day Bernard and I headed to Bruges. Bruges (Dutch: Brugge) is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country. Bruges has most of its medieval architecture intact. The historic centre of Bruges is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. The city's total population is more than 117,000, of which around 20,000 live in the historic centre. Along with a few other canal-based northern cities, it is sometimes referred to as "The Venice of the North".

View inside one of the churches we stepped into.


The quaint city streets were filled with tourists.
Here is me in front of the most photographed building in all of Bruges. Bernard used to date the girl whose father owns the building.
Enjoying a couple of Belgian beers on the terrace area outside the above photographed building. When we ordered the drinks, the waitress preferred English to Bernard's French. The Flemish seem pretty serious about trying to separate from Belgium.
A more quiet side street not filled by tourists.
The Church of Our Lady (Dutch: Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk) in Bruges, Belgium, dates mainly from the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. Its tower, at 122.3 meters in height, remains the tallest structure in the city and the second tallest brickwork tower in the world.

Me in front of one of the many canals around the city.

A cool looking doorway with Mary above.

The Provincial Court (Provinciaal Hof).

The belfry of Bruges, or Belfort, is a medieval bell tower in the historical center of Bruges, Belgium. One of the city's most prominent symbols, the belfry formerly housed a treasury and the municipal archives, and served as an observation post for spotting fires and other danger. A narrow, steep staircase of 366 steps leads to the top of the 83-meter-high building, which leans about a meter to the east.

The bells in the tower regulated the lives of the city dwellers, announcing the time, fire alarms, work hours, and a variety of social, political, and religious events. It now houses a municipal Carillon comprising 47 bells. The city still employs a full-time bell ringer, Aimé Lombaért, who puts on regular free concerts.


Back on the road to return to Brussels . . .