What originally attracted me to Brugge was in fact a contrast with Rotterdam - I thought it would be interesting to go from a city with cutting edge modern architecture to a city with medieval architecture. The effect was somewhat diluted because Marcy and I travelled to several other destinations between Rotterdam and Brugge during our visit there in 2007, but it sort of worked. I preferred Rotterdam. Brugge was just a bit too cute for me. Still, I think many of these photos are quite pretty.
This group of photos also includes our visit to the Belgian coast near Brugge, and to the town of Grand-Hornu, to a former industrial site now acting as an art gallery.
Photo List (Total 351 Photos)
Click bolded headers below to view, or click "just the best" for quick tour
-
The Burg and the Markt (77 photos) - These two squares are close together and form the most important public places in the city. The Markt contains many of the Post Office Building, a courthouse, and the Belfry, a tall tower with a view after mounting its 366 steps. The Burg has the Town Hall, the Civic Registry, and the Chapel of the Holy Blood.
-
Other sights in central Brugge (79 photos) - We visited the Fish Market (though we saw no fish, and no market), Arents Court with its series of old columns, The Church of Our Lady, the Simon Stevin Plein, the St. Salvator Cathedral, the Sint Jans Hospitaal, the Memling Museum and the very beautiful canal Rozenhoedkaai.
-
Our Barge and area (37 photos) - Marcy and I stayed on a Barge on the south end of the town, within easy walking distance of the city. This group of photos shows the Barge and area around it, several towers that formerly served a military purpose, Minnewater Park (including a very cool pedestrian drawbridge and some interesting public art), and some pretty photos of dusk along the canals.
-
Areas on the edge of the old city (80 photos) - We visited a number sites that were on the outer edge of the city, including windmills, the Jerusalem Church, a Lace Centre, and the charming Predikherenstraat, all on the north-east edge of town. On the western edge of town, we visited the square called the 'T Zand and saw the modern Concert Hall there. On the south side of town, we saw the Béguinage de Wijngaard, an old cloister of houses and a church, now a monastery but open to the public.
-
A few miscellanous photos (4 photos) - These four little photos didn't really go anywhere else.
Outside of Brugge ...
-
Belgian Coast (31 photos) - Marcy and I spent the night before entering Brugge on the Belgian coast. We had dinner and a short beach visit at a resort town called Blakenberge, and then spent the night at an industrial town called Zeebrugge ("Sea-Brugge"). In the morning, it was raining and we headed quickly onto to Brugge itself.
-
Grand-Hornu (43 photos) - Grand-Hornu is a Belgian town south east of Brussels, just north of the French border. Marcy and I were drawn there because of the history and the art. The town was established between 1810 and 1830 and was a planned industrial town. Many of the original buildings still exist, and some of the worker's cottages are still occupied. The town is also home to MAC's (the Musée des Arts Contemporains, or Museum of Contemporary Art). We spent a very pleasant day there, and these photos show the industrial buildings and artworks we encountered.
