Bruges - walking tour

    The medieval illusion is complete when melodious chimes ring out from the belfries of the city's ancient churches.
In summer and even during out-of-season weekends a metamorphosis takes place, when visitors fill the streets and squares and the whole town buzzes with activity.

Bruges' unique character was recognized by UNESCO in 2000 when it was placed on the World Heritage List. As Bruges is mostly closed to cars, the visit will be a "walking About" tour.
    To give a first real feeling, we would suggest the "canal tour" this is a "must".

Small boats will serpentine trought the town, passing under medieval bridges and giving you a sight, You can never admire from elsewhere.
    After digesting this event, we will start our walking visit, passing "The Markt" flanket by houses with crow-stepped gables, old guildhalls and the covered market in the shadow of the magnificent town belfry built in the 13C.

    The 'Burg' excavations have uncovered remains of the early-9C ramparts, however, these were pulled down in the 10C to enable the construction of St. Donaaskerk (church) .
Subsequently, the walls were replaced by brick ramparts.

Four of Bruges' main buildings surround this square:
    The Basilica church dedicated to the Holy Blood
    The Gothic town hall
    The Rennaissance court record office.

    All these edifices will be visited jumping from one century to the other and leaving the visitor in extasy.
    We won't miss to visit the Gothic church dedicated to Our Lady and admire the Michelangelo's splendid white marble "Madonna and Child" The "Beguine Convent of the Vine" founded in 1245, The Groeningemuseum from 15C, devoted to the Flemish Primitives painters and also the Memlingmuseum housed in the old 12C St. Jans Hospitaal.
    These will be the main spots, we will end the tour, driving around the ramparts and end in the most precious and melancholy little town of Damme who previously was the harbour of Bruges.

    Here, we will enjoy the best pancakes in the World, in an real local bistrot

    The Gothic hall of the Town Hall. Bruges Town Hall, built between 1376 and 1420 is one of the oldest in the Low Countries. A ceremonial staircase leads from the entrance hall to the first floor, where visitors can view the Gothic Chamber. This former council chamber continues to play an important part in the life of the city. The wooden, polychrome ceiling is decorated with a profusion of late-mediaeval carving. The murals illustrating Bruges' glorious past were added during the chamber's restoration in the late 19th century.

    The Chapel of the Holy Blood. The chapel of the Holy Blood is actually a double chapel which can be visited on the 'Burg' square in Bruges. It was first constructed in the 12th century and promoted to the rank of Basilica in 1923. One can enter the church on the first floor where the Holy Blood is kept via the 'Steeghere' which is a beautifully decorated façade behind which a staircase leads to the first floor. The original façade was constructed in late-gothic and renaissance style in the 16th century. It was demolished in the aftermath of the French Revolution and later rebuild and slightly moved. The guild statues represent Flemish counts.The lower part is called the Basilius chapel. It has preserved its original Romanesque style from the 12th-13th century. On the left side of the choir is the former chapel of the clerks of the civil registry (1503) and on the right side one can see a statue of the Virgin from around 1300. The passage between the main nave and the sidechapel is decorated with a tympanum, which is a sculptured stone in half-relief, probably representing the baptism of St. Basilius.