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All our info to spend a wonderful Weekend in Bruges to discover the jewel of Flanders. A weekend full of art, history and culture, without disdaining the delicacies of local cuisine. Beautiful, charming and sophisticated, the Belgian city conquers at first sight.
1st DAY WEEKEND IN BRUGES
Bruges weekend can not but start from the beautiful old town, and from the Basilica of the Holy Blood. A place of worship par excellence, it was built between 1134 and 1157, as a chapel in the residence of the Count of Flanders.
The church is located near the Town Hall and consists of 2 chapels: the lower one, in Romanesque style, dedicated to San Basilio; the upper one, richly decorated in Gothic style, dedicated to the Holy Blood.
According to tradition, the relic of Joseph of Arimathea was brought to the city by Thierry d’Alsace on his return from his second crusade. Inherent to this legend, every year, the day of the Ascension, takes place the Procession of the Holy Blood an event, UNESCO heritage, of enormous appeal.
It is open every day from 10:00 to 17:15.
ENTRANCE TO THE BASILICA IS FREE. To access the Museum and Treasure Room you have to pay the ticket at a cost of €5. Free for children under 12. Further info and updates on the official website: www.holyblood.com.
Continuing the walk in the beautiful alleys of the historic center, not far from the Basilica, you will find another unmissable site for your Weekend Bruges, or the Medieval Civic Tower, or Belfort (Beffroi) of Bruges.
Photo ©, Wolfgang Staudt
Belfort of Bruges, is one of the most important symbols of the city; in the past it housed a treasure and municipal archives and served as an observation point to spot fires and other dangers.
It towers over most of the surrounding buildings, and represents the history of Bruges as an economic and military power over the centuries. This splendid bell tower dominates the piazza del Market, an authentic meeting point for locals and tourists, as well as an area of the most beautiful buildings with a history of air.
Weather permitting, you can enjoy the magnificent view of Bruges and the surrounding countryside. And while you see new on the horizon, do not be scared and climb on top of the bell tower. Visit the room with the ancient treasure, where the valuables of the city were once kept.
Take a look at the intricate mechanisms of the huge clock that covers one of the facades of the tower: the carillon of Belfort, dating from the eighteenth century, counts 47 bells that sound regularly during the day.
Located in the historical center, its being reached by bus, going down to Brugge Wollestraat.
The Belfort of Bruges is open every day, including Sundays and holidays, from 09:00 to 20:00 (from November to January it closes at 18:00). Closed on 25/12 and 01/01. The entrance ticket costs €14 for adults and €12 reduced up to the age of 25. children under 12 enter for free.
The Grote Markt is the beating heart of Bruges from the ‘958, once populated by merchants, and today the hub of tourism, restaurants, bars, souvenir shops, guided tours; all this and a charming architecture make this part of the city special.
Stop and admire the statue in the middle of the square: a tribute to Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck, who led the Bruges Matins, a violent revolt against the French occurred in the early fourteenth century.
NOT TO BE MISSED, on Wednesday mornings, stalls where to buy fruit, vegetables and other local food products. From the second half of November, the weekly market moves to Piazza Burg to make room for skating rinks and Christmas stalls.
In market we see the Provincial Hof, neogothic building that now houses the provincial government of West Flanders and the post office of the city.
Tired of the trip and your first day of the weekend in Bruges? So, drop by De Garre, a brewery frequented only by locals. Is located in a practically invisible alley (it looks like the entrance of a shop) on the road between Market and the Castle.
Among the wide range of beers available, the “Garre” must be tried, with its 11° and its full and structured flavor; you will have the opportunity to accompany your beers with cheeses and typical salami.
2nd DAY WEEKEND IN BRUGES
Kanoa recommends a delicious breakfast with excellent cappuccinos, and delicious cakes from Li O Lait; in a narrow street in the historic center, stands this really exceptional café, which we recommend the official website to get a first idea!
After having refreshed yourself, your second day of Weekend in Bruges begins. The journey continues through the wonderful historic center.
Photo ©, Benjamin Rossen
The Castle is one of the most important squares of Bruges; here once stood the fortified castle (Burg) to protect the city center from Viking attacks.
In this beautiful square you can admire two buildings, including, first of all, the fourteenth century Gothic Town Hall (Stadhuis). It is one of the oldest in the country, with spiers, turrets, and the beautifully decorated facade.
Not to be missed is the Gothic Room (1400) with its wall paintings of the late nineteenth century that illustrate the most important events in the history of Bruges.
Next to the Town Hall, there is the former Renaissance-style Civil Registry which houses the Historical Museum of the Brugse Vrij. Do not miss the monumental wooden fireplace, alabaster and marble made in honor of Charles V.
The Town Hall is open every day from 9:30 to 17:00. It is closed on 01/01, Ascension day (afternoon) and 25/12. The ticket to visit the museum and town hall costs €7 per adult and €6 for children up to 25 years. Children under 12 enter for FREE.
Photo, 2012 Navy8003
You walk a few hundred meters, to get to the beautiful Groeningemuseum, a Dijver 12. The museum boasts a rich collection of works of art from the fifteenth to the twentieth century. Here, mainly works by artists who have lived and worked in Bruges are concentrated.
The aim of the exhibition is to offer an interesting overview of six centuries of art in the country.
In fact, the museum boasts some masterpieces of Jan Van Eyck, considered the initiator of the Flemish school. The section dedicated to the paintings of the masters of the Renaissance and the Baroque is very interesting.
Close the museum collection, a beautiful series of Flemish expressionist paintings and some post-war modern art works.
Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 am to 5:00 pm. Closed: Monday (except Easter Monday and Whit Monday), 1 January, Ascension Day (afternoon), 25 December. The full fare ticket costs €14. Reduced for children aged 17 to 25, €12. FREE for children up to 12 years old.
For lunch, we recommend staying in the Burg area. You can opt between Quatre Mains,a tapas bar, the Delaney Irish Pub (excellent sandwiches, excellent beer, wonderful location) and above all The Olive Tree; the latter is a great Greek restaurant (! ??) located at Wollestraate 3. To those who wonder if we were going crazy to offer you a Greek restaurant in Bruges, we reply by telling them to try their Mousaka!
With a full stomach, we recommend taking a walk and heading to Mariastraat in the historic center, to admire the church of Michelangelo.
The 122 high brick tower m. of the Church of Our Lady also called “Church of Michelangelo” dominates the splendid Bruges; it was built in Brabant Gothic style between the 13th and 15th centuries. Not to be missed during a Bruges weekend.
What makes the church famous is the rich collection of art treasures housed in it, first of all the“Madonna di Bruges” by Michelangelo. It is a sculpture of Carrara marble of extraordinary beauty, placed behind a bulletproof glass, in the right aisle.
Do not miss: the bronze sculptures of the tombs of Carlo Temerario and his daughter, Maria di Borgogna (choir), one Transfiguration by Gérard David (1520), one Passion of Bernard d’Orley, And a Virgin of the Seven Sorrows of Isenbrandt.
Located in the historic center, in Mariastraat, it is open from Monday to Saturday, from 09:30 to 17:00; Sunday, from 13:30 to 17:00. Museum closing: 1 January, Ascension Day (afternoon) and 25 December. The full ticket costs €7, and reduced for children up to 25 years, €6. Free for under 12.
Kanoa now recommends a Sweet Stop … from Chez Albert. It is located right in the historic center, in a small street behind the Berg; you can enjoy a sumptuous Waffle with some excellent Belgian chocolate, cream and strawberries. Unmissable!
An advice for your Weekend Bruges? Try going for a boat ride. In our opinion, a truly unique and enjoyable way to visit this beautiful city. Seeing Bruges, just during the sunset or in the evening, all lit up, with the silhouettes of the buildings projected on the river, is truly incomparable. A fascinating and, why not, a rather romantic experience.
You will find information in the main squares, where you will meet the stands of the companies that manage the boat service along the canals.
It will probably be almost dinner time: Kanoa recommends you Bistrot Pro Deo; excellent variety and choice, and above all, ideal for savoring the famous mussels and fries, city specialty! The dish will be served in pentolacce features: absolutely to try !! The official website for all info is www.bistroprodeo.be.
3rd DAY WEEKEND IN BRUGES
With the hope that you will be back in the late afternoon, you can not leave Bruges without having been to the Lake Minnewater.
One of the most characteristic and popular places in Bruges is the Minnewater. È the lake near the Begijnhof surrounded by a beautiful park and crossed by a striking 1720 bridge; from here, you will enjoy a spectacular view of the towers and the pointed roofs of Bruges.
The Minnewater is also famous for hosting a large colony of swans, whose presence on the banks of the lake is linked to an ancient legend. It is said that in the 1488, the population of Bruges executed one of the city administrators belonging to the court of Maximilian of Austria; since the family crest of the unfortunate man carried the effigy of a white swan, the emperor punished the citizens by obliging them to swan the lakes and canals of the city for eternity.
This is but a part of the wonders you can visit during a weekend in Bruges.