Exploring Bruges

Bruges, Belgium, often thought of as a Venice of the north for its series of quaint canals, might be slightly famous due to the movie In Bruges, but the city’s vast history, eye-catching architecture and fine beer make it a perfect stop for a long weekend.

Proudly situated in West Flanders, Bruges also includes Zeebrugge, one of the most important ports in modern Europe. Travel closer to Bruges’ city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to see the city’s medieval architecture. Start in Burg Square with the Bell Tower, a mere 366 steps to the top, where you will have a view of the city and the Markt below. Take a close look at the bell; it rings every 15 minutes.

Stroll nearby for the Groeninge Museum, which displays incredible works of art from painters like Jan Van Eyck and Hans Memling. Italian art more to your liking? You will surprisingly find that in the form of Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child; the only one of his pieces to leave Italy during his lifetime, it now sits in Bruges’ Church of our Lady.

Visit one more museum, Memling Museum at St. John’s Hospital, for a fine collection of Flemish primitives; part of the space is set up to show how nuns ran the hospital 800 years ago. Stop at the Begijnhof, a Benedictine nuns’ one-time home to revel in the quiet courtyard.

Any visit to Bruges wouldn’t be complete without plenty of beer: Stop by the De Halve Maan Brewery Tour before stopping into the bars surrounding Burg square for a pint and dinner.