The country of Belgium has a strategic location in Western Europe that has occasionally turned it into a battlefield between the continent’s great powers. Waterloo, Ypres, and the Battle of the Bulge are just a few of the historic battles that have taken place here. Today, Belgium’s capital of Brussels is a bustling city of 1.2 million people that serves a peaceful purpose as the main headquarters and central meeting place for the twenty-seven member states of European Union. There are interesting sites to see in Brussels, but the smaller city of Bruges located near the North Sea has emerged in this century as the most prominent tourist attraction in the region. The Historic Centre of Bruges was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO because it is “an outstanding example of a medieval historic settlement, which maintained its historic fabric over the centuries and where the original Gothic constructions form a part of the town’s identity.” The city served as the Cultural Capital of Europe in 2002 and has been featured in many movies. 

Background of Bruges - There have been settlements located on the coastal plain along the river Reie dating back to the days of the Romans. Bruges emerged as a trading center in the 11th century under the control of the Counts of Flanders. Merchants seeking to procure Flemish cloth came into port and eventually Italian cities made the city a base for their traders’ operations in northern Europe. By the time that Bruges was incorporated into the court of Burgundy in the 14th century, the city was attracting wealthy members of the nobility, artists, and craftsmen to settle there. To manage these commercial activities, new buildings arose around the town squares including government offices, a stock exchange, and headquarters for the many powerful craft guilds located there. The guilds regulated the quality and supply of the luxury goods produced in the city and the qualifications of the merchants and artisans working on them. In the 15th century, Bruges enjoyed a period of great wealth and prestige, and grew into one of the largest cities in Europe with 60,000 residents. 

During the succeeding centuries, Bruges was stuck in the middle of religious and political conflicts between contesting camps and at various times the city was under the control of the Dutch, Spanish, Austrian and French empires. Meanwhile, commercial conditions changed with the advent of the industrial revolution and the emergence of competing shipping ports. Although the focus shifted away from Bruges, the city fortunately retained its unique Gothic and medieval architecture into the twentieth century. This heritage gave the community the ability to preserve these landmarks and create a pleasant environment for new residents and visitors to enjoy. 

Places to Visit-There are many places worth visiting in Bruges, but the following ones should be considered on an initial visit or a day trip:

Market Square- The Market Square of Bruges is one of the most popular places to visit in northern Europe. This 2.5-acre area contains many buildings that date back to the 13th century. It still reflects the history of the city as a trading center for merchants and a traditional gathering place for residents. In addition to the colorful guild halls and the imposing Provincial Court building, the cobble stoned Market Square is full of restaurants, cafes, shops, and vendors. Two local heroes, Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck, who played vital roles in the Flemish resistance to the French in the early 14th-century, are honored with a famous statue in the center of the square. Since the removal of most of the traffic lanes in the 1990s, the square has also frequently been used for concerts, festivals, and celebrations. During the summer, many people enjoy taking rides around the square and the nearby streets on horse drawn carriages and during the winter, the square hosts large Christmas displays and themes.

Belfrey- The most famous landmark in Bruges is the Bell Tower located on the south side of the square. First erected around 1240, this building rises 272 feet and features a stone parapet in Gothic Revival style. The Bell Tower can be accessed by climbing a narrow and steep staircase with 366 steps to a viewing platform that looks out across the square and provides excellent views of the city. During medieval times, the large bells in the tower were used to announce the time, fires, work hours, and important events. Today, the forty-seven huge bells ring every fifteen minutes and carillon concerts take place three to five days each week depending on the season. 

Canals- The canals of Bruges are another attraction that contributes to the reputation of Bruges as the “Venice of the North.”  Built during the early Middle Ages to provide multiple avenues to reach the North Sea and transport goods around the city, the canals also served as a defensive fortification against hostile armies or Viking raiders. While some canals fell into disrepair in later centuries, they were gradually restored during the 1800s and now provide an alternative way to see the historic buildings and bridges of the town. Boat tours leave from separate places in the city. There are many places where hotels, cafes, tea rooms, and restaurants look out on the canals as well. 

Other Sites - Like other places that attract tourists, there are a variety of other odd attractions around Bruges to see. The Old Stone Museum, located in one of the oldest prisons in Europe, features dozens of exhibits that show the history and evolution of torture devices such as the rack from the early Middle Ages to the Inquisition. The family-owned chocolate museum of Bruges known as Choco Story has a chocolate making tour, lots of information about different kinds of chocolate and the history of chocolate, and of course the finished product. Burg Square is another historic part of the city that some people enjoy. It features the original fortress and castle built by the Count of Flanders which served as the administrative center of the city and as the religious center until the cathedral located there was demolished.