Bruges. April 2019.

We spent 3 days in Bruges with my sister Di, and her husband, David. We travelled on the Eurostar from London to Brussels and then took another train to Bruges where we stayed in a small hotel not far from the centre but nice and quiet. We were very lucky with the weather, it was cold but we had plenty of sunshine so were able to do lots of walking around the town. We've been to Bruges on several occassions but it was the first time for Di and David. 

Bruges is often referred to as 'The Venice of the North' due to its numerous canals.  

One morning we walked up a narrow, steep staircase of 366 step to the top of the Belfry (bell tower) on the southern side of the Markt (market square). We were there soon after it opened. By the time we came back down there were long queues as they limit the number of people in the tower. The bell tower houses a carillon with 47 melodious bells. At every quarter hour some of them ring out over the town with a longer melody on the hour.

 The first of many belgium beers!

The Belfry in the Markt at night.

A view from the top of the Belfry 

Grand Place. 

A boat trip is a great way to see the city.

Although the canals in the centre of the town are now used for tourism there are some much larger ones around the town which are still used for commercial barges.  One afternoon we walked to the large canal to the East of the old town.

 One of the old city gates.

A park alongside the canal. 

One of the large barges that still use the canals. 

A road bridge lifting to allow barges to pass.

The fine (but cold) weather meant that we were able to walk everywhere  

Last updated: November 2020