<h3>A trip to Bruges.</h3>

It was only last winter that I went to Bruges with my parents. Bruges is the capital of the province of West Flanders, the Flemish region of Belgium. In Dutch, Brugge means “landing stage”. Bruges has not changed since medieval times and is a major landmark of Europe. We flew to Brussels and then took a train into Bruges. It is very easy to reach Bruges as it is well connected by train to all Belgium’s major cities.

The Bruges railway station is just five-minute walk from the city’s main market square and not much further from our accommodation. We had booked a lovely room in advance and this made our time in Bruges all the more enjoyable.

As the streets are narrow and there are many canals in the city, it is not advisable to drive to and in Bruges. Instead, you can take advantage of the many guided walking tours of the city, which will be an unforgettable experience for the ones who don’t mind walking long distances.

The first thing we noticed in Bruges was that its medieval architecture has been preserved throughout the centuries and is still intact. We simply could not take our eyes off the medieval buildings that will surely fascinate anyone who visits Bruges. One of the buildings you’ll always remember is Europe’s highest brick tower belonging to the Church of Our Lady, (Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk).

Also, make sure that you visit the 13th Century Belfry (Belfort), which hosts the municipal Carillon having forty seven bells. UNESCO has declared Bruges “World Heritage Site” because of its huge assortment of Medieval and early modern art.

It was a pleasure walking down Bruges’ busy squares, parks and cobbled streets, and visiting the town’s almshouses and patrician’s homes. We also stopped to admire the Blacksmith’s Gate, the Ghent Gate, the Cross Gate and the Donkey’s Gate which are part of the medieval ramparts built in the 13th – 14th century. We could even go for a stroll or cycle around these ramparts. What I particularly enjoyed in Bruges though were the four 13th century windmills which are still operating today!

There are lots of museums in the city catering to the different interests of the tourists. There are chocolate museums, diamond museums, churches, lace centers, and collections that will simply baffle those who have an interest in archery. Anyone interested in astronomy (like myself) should not miss the Bruges observatory.

Bruges boasts not only about its medieval monuments but also about its modern architecture. For example, its Concertgebouw (Concert Hall) is a creative ode to Bruges and its dreams. Barge Bridge and Conzettbridge are two other modern masterpieces of the city. Bruges is also famous for its beer and breweries. Many beers have been named after Bruges.

If you plan to visit Bruges with your children, you should know that there are museums and guided tours especially for them. There is also a theme park which all of us enjoyed tremendously.

Last but not least, if you visit Bruges, don’t forget to have ‘Brugsch Swaentje’ (Bruges Swan) and other chocolate products that are guaranteed to leave you craving for more. You may get more information on the official tourism website of the city.