Walking through Bruges

My room-mate at the Lybeer hostel only showed up once during the night to say hi (just when I was getting ready for sleep, thank God) and then was never seen again. How fortunate to have a room to oneself in a hostel. Getting ready in the morning was then a pleasure since I didn’t have to be quiet for someone else. I had decided to skip the free walking tour of the hostel at noon and rather go with the free Legends of Bruges tour at 9:45. My time was of course limited on this trip, so I wanted the make the most of it.

And what better way to explore a new city than to start with a free walking tour. It started at the Main Square (market) and walked there through empty streets. So great to be out before most tourist throng the streets.

the empty streets of Bruges

the empty streets of Bruges

check out the McDonald's @Bruges

check out the McDonald’s @Bruges

Main Square @Bruges

Main Square @Bruges

Main Square @Bruges

Main Square @Bruges

Main Square @Bruges

Main Square @Bruges

Before starting with the tour I had coffee and a croissant in a nearby café. Already the croissant was lovely and tasty, so different from what is sold in Vienna as a croissant. The tour then started on time with a young and energetic guide who really knew his history.

meeting point @Bruges

meeting point @Bruges

What he explained first and what stuck with me is that Bruges looks the way it does because basically they didn’t have any money for restorations during a 500 year period. Apparently it all started with Maximilian I. when they imprisoned him in one of the houses on the Main Square and then beheaded one of his friends. I can imagine that he was not too pleased. From then on it went downhill and no money made its way to Bruges. Good for us though because it looks like medieval city.

Main Square @Bruges

Main Square @Bruges

the streets of Bruges

the streets of Bruges

decorated houses @Bruges

decorated houses @Bruges

We walked from the Main Square to cloth halls to the palace of Gruuthuse, old St John’s hospital, BeguinageLake of Love, Half Moon brewery, Stove street, Church of Our Lady, Bonifacius bridge, Groeninge museum, Dijver, Rozenhoedkaai, Tanner’s Square, Fish market and Burg square. In these 2 hours we saw all the sights (or almost) of Brugge. Really the best way to get to know the city and get an overview. After that I was exhausted which you will understand when you look at the pictures. Yours, Pollybert

palace of Gruuthuse @Bruges

Palace of Gruuthuse @Bruges

old St John’s hospital @Bruges

old St John’s hospital @Bruges

 

lace making @Bruges

lace making @Bruges

watering hole for horses @Bruges

watering hole for horses @Bruges

Beguinage @Bruges

Beguinage @Bruges

Beguinage @Bruges

Beguinage @Bruges

near the Lake of Love @Bruges

near the Lake of Love @Bruges

Lake of Love @Bruges

Lake of Love @Bruges

beguinage @Bruges

Beguinage @Bruges

street art @Bruges

street art @Bruges

streets of Bruges

streets of Bruges

 

Church of Our Lady @Bruges

Church of Our Lady @Bruges

Bonifacius bridge @Bruges

Bonifacius bridge @Bruges

near Bonifacius bridge @Bruges

near Bonifacius bridge @Bruges

art is everywhere @Bruges

art is everywhere @Bruges

 

Dijver @Bruges

Dijver @Bruges

Dijver @Bruges

Dijver @Bruges

Rozenhoedkaai @Bruges

Rozenhoedkaai @Bruges

Tanner's Square @Bruges

Tanner’s Square @Bruges

on the way to the Burg Square @Bruges

on the way to the Burg Square @Bruges

water canals @Bruges

water canals @Bruges

Rozenhoedkaai @Bruges

Rozenhoedkaai @Bruges

Let me know what you think

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