Entertainment and attractions
The entire historical center of Bruges is essentially one big attraction. Most of the ancient buildings and structures are recognized as objects of historical and cultural heritage and are under the protection of UNESCO. However, there are a number of buildings that are of the greatest interest.
It is worth starting your acquaintance with the city from its heart – the Grote Markt square. Its name (“market square” translated from Flemish) speaks for itself – covered markets operate here and now. Tourists are attracted by the architectural ensemble of buildings of different styles and eras, which is crowned by the Belfort Tower, the main historical symbol of the city. This massive and at the same time elegant structure 83 meters high was erected at the end of the 13th century.
There are 366 steps leading to the upper platform of the Belfort Tower, after climbing which you can admire the city and its surroundings.
On the neighboring Burg Square there is another interesting building – the town hall. Its elegant, opulent Gothic façade immediately catches the eye. The interior of the building, which still holds meetings of the City Council, is no less rich – lancet oak vaults, wall frescoes, medallions and a luxurious fireplace of the 16th century.
Most of the ancient buildings and structures of Bruges are recognized as objects of historical and cultural heritage and are under the protection of UNESCO.
There are many religious buildings in Bruges, interesting for their architecture. Next to the town hall is the Church of the Holy Blood of Christ, which belongs to two styles at once – Romanesque (lower chapel) and Gothic (second floor). To the northeast of the center rises the Jerusalem Church, the most unusual in Bruges. Be sure to go inside – the original Gothic appearance is excellently preserved, including a copy of the tomb of Christ and the altar.
6 things to do in Bruges
- Lay low in one of the small authentic hotels.
- Try all types of beer.
- Travel back 500 years with a ride around the city in a horse-drawn carriage.
- Climb Belfort and try to see the most remote outskirts.
- Feed the swans at the Lake of Love.
- Learn to brew beer, make chocolate and fry fries.
Museums
Despite the compactness of Bruges, it will take more than one day to bypass all the exhibitions and expositions. And you should start with the Groeninge Museum (aka the Museum of Fine Arts), one of the most popular among city guests. Its halls contain works by Belgian and Flemish painters who worked in the styles of primitivism, neoclassicism, symbolism and others.
To get acquainted with the history of these places, head to the Archaeological Museum. The exposition covers the period from the Middle Ages to the present day, telling about the life of local residents in an interactive and fascinating way.
A trip to the Archaeological Museum of Bruges is more like an exciting journey into the past than a boring excursion through the dusty halls.
There are several expositions in Bruges that allow not only to quench the thirst for knowledge, but also to get gastronomic pleasure. Excursions in the Museums of french fries and brewing traditionally end with a tasting. The exhibitions themselves tell about the history and technologies of making these dishes.
Finally, we recommend a look at the Diamond Museum. Few people know that Bruges is not only the chocolate, but also the diamond capital of Europe. The exposition covers all stages of mining and processing of precious stones, and the exhibition ends with a collection of historical jewels created by craftsmen several centuries ago.
Leisure
The best entertainment in Bruges is canal boating. Fascinating excursions will introduce you to the history of the city and show places that cannot be reached in any other way. The cost of a half-hour excursion is 7.60 EUR per adult ticket.
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Bruges for kids
In Bruges, there are not many attractions for children, however, in this town lost in time, little travelers will not be bored.
At the Chocolate Museum, children will be even more interesting than adults. They will learn what everyone’s favorite delicacy is made of and where cocoa beans grow, watch the work of a chocolatier and see how handmade sweets are created. A tour about the history and technology of chocolate making ends with a tasting, for which young tourists are ready to come here again and again.
To the south of the historic center lies the Boudewijn amusement park (off. site in English). It combines extreme rides, a water park and a dolphinarium. Having rolled on the roller coaster, the children run to watch the exciting performances of marine life. On another site, there is a show of birds of prey – eagles, falcons and vultures grab their prey right on the fly. In summer, a mini-zoo operates on the territory, where you can pet and feed chickens, sheep, goats and other domestic animals. In winter, a skating rink is flooded and an exhibition of ice figures is held. In memory of the rest – a photo session with owls and sea lions.
Weather in Bruges
On New Year’s Eve and Christmas Bruges turns into a real fairy tale, which attracts crowds of tourists here. However, this is not the best time to explore the city and its sights. In winter it is cold and dank here. There are no severe frosts, but frequent precipitation and wind from the North Sea do not contribute to long walks. See BRIDGAT.COM for weather information.
In summer, the weather is warm, but not hot, comfortable. The period from June to August is best for traveling, but it is at this time that there are most tourists here, the streets are noisy and crowded. For a relaxing holiday, it is better to choose May or September, but you need to be prepared for a possible cold snap.
