April 17, 2023
The entire city of Brugge (Bruges) is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Settled by the Vikings in the 9th century, Brugge grew to become a thriving trade center throughout the Middle Ages. It was also an artistic center during the Renaissance. It fell on hard times in later years when its connection to the North Sea filled with silt and ships could no longer make their way to Brugge in the 12th century. Its fortunes changed once again during both World War I and World War II when it survived undamaged by the battles raging across Europe. It is now the best-preserved medieval city and has become a prosperous tourist attraction sometimes known as the "Venice of the North" with its canals running through the city offering views of the carefully preserved Medieval and Renaissance-era buildings.
Our ship docked in the port of Zeebrugge. There were many windmills nearby to provide power for the area.
Our bus drove to Brugge and we had time to admire the old buildings on the way.
The bus dropped us off at a park on the outskirts of Brugge as buses are not allowed in the city center and in many areas car traffic is restricted as well. We walked along a path lined with knotted trees and crossed a bridge over a canal offering our first views of the city center.
We walked along a canal to the city, admiring the swans who made this area their home.
Once in the city center, we walked down narrow roads admiring the medieval buildings and shops. This area was free of cars, although there was horse and carriage transportation.
When we reached Walplein Square, we admired a sculpture by Jef Claerhout honoring the coachmen of Brugge. Its English translation is "Zeus, Leda, Prometheus and Pegasus visit Bruges." Zeus is in the form of a swan with Prometheus taking on the role of the coachman.
We continued our walk through Brugge. We passed tempting shops, canal boats and interesting archways and buildings.
We stopped to admire the grand Church of Our Lady from the outside. We were not able to go inside.
The next square feature the Gruuthusemuseum. Again, we just saw it from the outside. Had we been able to go inside, we would have seen what a wealthy family's home looked like in medieval times, as well as beautiful Flemish tapestries and other artifacts from Belgium's past.
We explored the city some more
until we came to Burg Square, a former fortress and now one of the main squares in Brugges.
We passed by the Historium, a unique interactive museum which takes you back in time to when Brugge was a trading and artistic center of European culture. You see it through the eyes of a painter's apprentice and experience what life was like back then. Again, we didn't have time to go inside, but it is definitely something I would want to do if I make it back to Brugge.
Finally we reached the Chocolate Museum and Choco-Story, our primary destination in Brugge. Here we learned how chocolate was transformed from the cacao bean into the delicious candy treats we enjoy.
After enjoying delicious chocolate samples made from cacao beans around the world, we had time to visit the gift shop and explore the chocolate museum which contained artifacts from chocolate making throughout history.
Afterwards, we walked to a nearby square and had time to shop and explore. We bought lots of delicious chocolate of many different flavors.
Then it was time to return to the park where our bus was waiting for us. On our way back, we enjoyed our last sights of this wondrous city.
Ah, Brugge! We enjoyed exploring that historic city as well! It is so well-preserved - and the chocolate is outstanding!