Category: Belgium

The small town of Bruges, Belgium located in West Flanders is one of the most well kept medieval towns in all of Europe. In 2000 the city centre was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The city is full of beautiful buildings, delicious Belgian chocolates, Venice like canals and so much more. There are so many great things to do in Bruges. With so much to do in such a small town where to start when visiting? Here are the best places to visit in Bruges.

Best Places to Visit in Bruges

1. Visit Burg Square

Bruges is the type of town that surprises you at ever corner. One moment you are walking down a quaint cobblestoned street inside the old town city center and the next you are standing in a town square surrounded by stunning architecture. Burg square is one of those places that will leave you in awe. It is a great place for a picture / selfie and is filled with tons of history.

Read more from source: 12 Best Places to Visit in Bruges

‘If we had tried to do this a few years ago’ jokes Till-Holger Bolchert. ‘the answer wouldn’t have just been ‘no’. You would’ve been exiled’

Bruges’ Triennial has not come easy. First founded in the 1970s, this artistic takeover of Bruges’ historic city-centre fell victim to political squabbles a decade later.

‘After that, the art scene collapsed here. Everything went to Brussels’ explains Michel Dewilde, a curator.

But since 2012, the Triennial has returned, and is now reshaping Bruges for a second time.

‘It’s not just about attracting tourists’ says Till. ‘It’s about giving something back to the local community, to give them something which genuinely helps them’.

Bruges, a picturesque European port, feels like a work of art in and of itself. A UNESCO world heritage site, the locals’ conservative attitude toward the city centre makes change difficult. Restarting the Triennial took a great deal of work.

Yet the results have been worth the effort. The installations add a new dimension to Bruges, bring surprise and pizzazz to the city’s orderly centre. It all makes the Triennial a great time to visit Flanders.

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Dinant

Dinant is not only one of Belgium’s most beautiful towns, it’s one of the most beautiful in all of Europe. Sandwiched between the glistening waters of the Meuse River and its citadel just south of the capital city, it’s famous for several natural attractions, including the Grotto of Dinant and the Caves of Han, some of the largest and most spectacular caves in Europe. Located in a wildlife reserve, they’re surrounded by lush flora and abundant fauna. In the town itself you’ll discover some especially remarkable architecture, including the Collegiate Church of Notre Dame, while its mountaintop fortress offers jaw-dropping views. One of the best ways to experience it is to spend a day exploring, and then relax at one of the local cafes to enjoy the scene.

Bruges

Frequently ranked among the most beautiful cities in Europe, Bruges’ medieval center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, complete with charming cobbled streets and picturesque canals lined with Gothic churches, 17th-century mansions, chocolate shops and flower markets.

Read more from source: 8 Beautiful Towns in Belgium You Need to Visit

INTRODUCTION

Europe is a continent full of diverse cultures, languages, food, and architecture all compacted in a relatively small area.  Within a five hour drive you can travel across five different countries that speak different languages and eat different foods.  After living and traveling all over Europe the last four years and visiting 28 European countries, I find myself enjoying the small towns in Europe much more than the mega cities like Paris and London.

Many of the small towns in Europe were spared destruction in the wars and still have impressive historical buildings without the modern skyscrapers in the background.  If traveling to Europe, its well worth it to venture out of the popular large cities and explore the small towns to get a more authentic feel of the country.

The below destinations are my top 10 small towns in Europe that I have visited.  If I missed any, let me know in the comments below since I’m always interested in learning about more small towns to visit!

10) BRAŞOV, ROMANIA

Braşov, Romania is located in Transylvania surrounded by rolling hills and mountains.

Read more from source: Top 10 Small Towns to Visit in Europe – TravelUpdate

The UNESCO World Heritage city of Bruges is known for making visitors redefine their concepts of romance and tranquility. DW’s Eesha Kheny took a trip to northwestern Belgium to experience this magic in person.

After an early flight into Brussels, I caught the next mainline train heading to the coast.  There are multiple connections daily, making it an easy one hour train ride from Brussels to Bruges.

On the way, a sudden craving for Belgian waffles led me to make a quick stop in Ghent. A small yet bustling student city, Ghent is well known for its pedestrianized city center lined with medieval buildings and cozy cafes. After a delicious breakfast I climbed up the 91 meter (299 ft.) tall Belfry, one of three Ghent towers, for a bird’s-eye view of St. Bavo’s Cathedral and the rest of the city. Although the exterior of this massive cathedral is interesting, the real highlight is the unique 24-panel altarpiece painted by Hubert and Jan van Eyck in 1432, which can be accessed for an admission fee of 4 euros (US $ 5).

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………. Bruges – is the capital of the province of West Flanders and probably the most beautiful city of Belgium. They have their unforgettable atmosphere given not only by preserved medieval architecture reminiscent of former wealth, but also by a network of narrow canals. The historic center was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000, and in 2002 Bruges became the European Capital of Culture. Today, 117,000 inhabitants live here, but tourists arrive a few million a year. You will not see any billboards and high-rise buildings, the traffic in the center is very limited.
It is worth mentioning the sporting events that take place around the Flanders circuit, which starts in Bruges, from the culture just to mention the film In Bruges (Bruges), in which the city plays a significant role and which beautifully describes its atmosphere.
According to this beautiful town hall, the town hall was built in Brussels, Ghent and Leuven. This town hall was built by the town hall in Brussels, Ghent and Leuven.

Read more from source: Jigidi – Free online jigsaw puzzles

Your chance to win a two-night stay in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, courtesy of Visit Bruges and P&O Ferries

The countdown to the 2018 Bruges Triennial has begun! From May 5th to September 16th, the three-yearly contemporary arts trail will transform the city into a ‘walkable gallery’ based on the theme ‘Liquid City’. It provides a rare opportunity to witness surprising art installations and impressive architectural creations by international artists throughout the public spaces in the historic heart of this medieval city (visit triennalebrugge.be).

Getting lost in Bruges is almost impossible, but the only map you might need is the city’s new Local Love map (visitbruges.be/en/locallove). Showing a fine selection of hidden gems, you can visit off-the-beaten-track spots popular with locals. Shops with a ‘Local Love’ label are unique and authentic with delightful original gifts and goods.

You simply can’t have the full Bruges experience, however, without a visit to one of the many tea shops and coffee bars. Or why not visit the city’s traditional beer cafes?

Source: Win a P&O minicruise and a two-night stay in Bruges

Anne Vanneste left France some six years ago to return to her native Bruges in Belgium, where her she and her family own a historic brewery. In need of a place to live, she embarked on the adventure of transforming an all but abandoned space on the brewery compound into a bright new home.

“This house has probably been transformed a million times,” said Anne Vanneste, a 36-year-old naval architect, showing the new version of her centuries-old, double-gable home in the villagelike center of the city, where her mother’s family has been running De Halve Maan, (the Half Moon), the city’s oldest continuous brewery, since the 1850s. In addition to her stake, Ms. Vanneste runs the brewery visitor center.

She and her family spent about $800,000 on a gut renovation to convert the brewery complex’s low-ceiling, second-story storage space into a contemporary home.

The 400-hundred-year-old building, with a 600-year-old basement, now contains a 2,700-square-foot apartment with two bedrooms, one bathroom and several outdoor spaces.

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