For submitting a new event or a guide item, please
email us.
The Market (Grote Markt)
The central location of the Market already indicates that the square must have been the commercial heart of the city in medieval times. The centre of the square is the 83 m high belfry tower of the cloth hall. This was a covered hall where the ships could unload their products for storage in the halls or for direct sale on the adjacent market. On the north side the Provincial Court has its building while the statues of Jan Greydel and Pieter de Coninck grace the middle of the market and some splendid medieval houses decorate the south end of the place. Not all houses date back to medieval times but are duplicates or are restored in medieval style. No wonder this central square is one of the most beautiful places of the city with many restaurants, cafes and private houses. It is a very lively location for locals and visitors alike. Since 1996 it is free from traffic which makes it nice to sit and enjoy the view.
Bruges
The Burg
The Burg is the second biggest square in the city where the administrative heart of Bruges used to be beating. The name “The Burg” derives from the time of Lord Balduin who had a castle built as defence against the Normans and the Vikings. Today the castle is gone but the name stayed. The Burg is famous for its amazingly varied styled buildings like the City Hall from 1376 which possesses great Gothic windows. Renaissance, Gothic, Baroque and neo-classical buildings stand next to each other and give a certain charm to this special place. Sights on the square are the Old Civil Registry (Renaissance), the former Court of Justice (neo-classicist style) and the Deanery (1662), the former house of the Deans of the St. Donatius church (Baroque style). But also the Chapel of the Holy Blood is located over here.
Bruges
The Provincial Court
The Provincial Court is located on the Market Square and serves as a good example for Bruges renovated neo-gothic style buildings. In 1787 the former water wall was destructed and a new complex of houses was built in classicist style. In 1850 the house was bought by the government and transformed into the seat of the provincial institutions. Since the classicist style was by then considered to be very modern the building was rejected by the members of the catholic and traditional political parties as “unfit for the beautiful gothic Bruges”. About 28 years later a fire destroyed most of the building and some groups managed to have it rebuilt in the typical neo-gothic style. On the left side of the complex is now the house of the Governor of the Province of West-Flanders. The red brick building on the right side is the Post Office of Bruges.
Bruges
The Belfry and the Cloth Hall
These two sights are without doubt the most famous buildings on the market square. The original buildings date back to 1240 and were destroyed by a fire in 1280. The four wings of the cloth hall and the two square segments of the tower already existed at the time of the fire. Only the present octagonal lantern was added to the tower between 1482 en 1486. Two other fires in 1493 and 1741 destroyed again parts of the tower. The Belfry tower used to be the place where important documents were kept but it was also used as a watchtower with different bells signalising different events (bells for danger, bells for important announcements, bells to indicate the time, etc.). The cloth hall stands for the importance as a medieval trading centre as the Flemish cloth that was manufactured in different Belgian cities was sold to different countries from here.
Zeebrugge - port
The port of Bruges is called Zeebrugge and is located close to the North Sea. It is a big trans-shipment centre and fishing port. Zeebrugge is connected to Bruges by a 12 km long channel which is used for commercial ships. Actually Zeebrugge is a city on the Belgian coastline which is thanks to its harbour a busy sea resort with hotels, cafes and beaches and an important internationally used trans-shipment centre for the automobile industry. Since it is very close to the UK it got a new function as a passenger port from which ferries go to the UK.
The St. John's Hospital
This medieval hospital which is the oldest still existing hospital in Europe is located in front of the Notre Dame church. In 1978 it lost its function as a hospital and is nowadays used as host for different museums such as the Memling Museum, the Hospital Museum and the old pharmacy. The first part of the hospital was built in “Mariastraat” close to the Maria Gate, one of the oldest gates of the previous city wall. The idea was that it should house travellers, pilgrims and traders. Later, in the 19th century, the new complex was built. These “new” rooms are used by the cultural centre for congresses and exhibitions.
Minnewater
The first impression you are getting from Bruges is by looking over the picturesque canalized lake Minnewater. From the bridge that crosses the water the view over the city is stunning. Therefore the lake was called Minnewater which is associated with love since “minne” is an old word for love. But actually there is nothing romantic in the history of the lake. It is the place where the river Reie used to flow into the city. The river was later canalised and the lake that formed was used for the water supply and for keeping the water in the canals on the same level. Close-by the lake there is a park with the same name – Minnewater-Park.
Canals
The romantic canals which are surrounding Bruges are the reason why the city got the name “Venice of the North”. The canals are called “Reien” which comes from the river “Reie” which was canalised in medieval times. Today the canals are only used for tourist boats but that has not always been. Usually commercial boats with load were passing the water. A tour on a tourist boat is quite recommendable as it gives a different view on the city and also an introduction to the history. There are four families having the right to offer tourist trips on the water. Prices for boat trips are about 6 Euro for nearly a 1 hour trip. Usually guides are in different languages.
The Godshuizen
Bruges possesses some houses that are similar in style and frequency in the city. Most of them are medieval looking houses with a name and date marking the front mainly the name of the donator or rich family, together with the year of construction.. These houses are called “Godshuizen” which means “Houses of God” but actually the houses are not used for a religious purpose but as houses for the poor and needy. The houses used to be built around an inner court where the people got their water and could grow their own vegetables even though the “Godhuizen” provided food and basic care for the inhabitants. The houses were financed by rich families in the 14th century for poor widows and widowers, handicapped or ill people.
Most of the houses are around Zand Square and Sint Kathelijnestraat. One of the most beautiful and impressive complexes is the “Godshuis De Meulenaere” in the “Nieuwe Gentweg Street”.
Dear tobook.com visitor, you also can contribute to our city guides with
events and articles. Do you want to inform our readers with an upcoming
event or do you want to publish your article, please
email us at guide. We would welcome personal stories about your experiences
in Europe as a great addition to our city guides.
Attractions
E-mail this to a friend
Printable version
