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Our visit to Bruges City in 10 pictures by Colleen Keating

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Bruges

Michael and I chose Bruges  to spend a few days while we were overseas. We read  that Burges is one of the most walkable friendly cities in the world  and I have always longed to see it. It is announced as  one of the most well-preserved medieval city in  Europe and it is seen as a welcoming destination for travellers from all over the world.

The whole city emanates an appreciation of the past, a love of the present, and enthusiasm for the future.
Bruges, the capital of West Flanders in northwest Belgium, is distinguished by its canals, cobbled streets and medieval buildings. Its port, Zeebrugge, is an important center for fishing and European trade. In the city center’s Burg square, the 14th-century Stadhuis (City Hall) has an ornate carved ceiling. Nearby, Markt square features a 13th-century belfry with a 47-bell carillon and 83m tower with panoramic views. There are ancient churches, old buildings and wonderful shops  parks , canals and plenty of places to sit and watch the people wandering along. Bikes, scooters, horses and carriages clip-cloppinh   along on the cobbled stones was a familar sound. 

Getting there 

Elizabeth helped us get the travel details organised. She  booked us seats on the Eurostar. We had to travel by train to St Pancreaes International Railway station and we caught the 7am  Channel-tunnel train. It was very exciting. We were only just on time, as we needed to go through security as it was like flying and  leaving the country.

The journey was great fun out of England 30  or so minutes  by train under water and into France and Belgium . At Brussels we changed trains to a local train for and hour to Bruge and then Michael and I walked to our accommodation which we had planed. 

We were in a fairy tale city. We found our booked apartment which was grander than we had expected and quickly enjoyed walking. . .and of course getting lost . We were lost a lot but I guess that is how one explores.

And when Elizabeth joined us  two days later the fun really began with waffles and  Belgium chocolate and beer  and lots of walking , a ride on the canals and discovering lots of little corners of amazing stories like the Lovers bridge , the Beguines quiet world and many colourful experiences.

 

 

 

Elizabeth went off by herself to climb the The Belfry of Bruges. It soars high above the city’s medieval skyline to 83 metres. It’s now a veritable icon of the town – just look up and you’ll be able to see it from virtually all corners of the old centre. What’s more, its location on the main Market Square means it’s easy to get to on foot. Dating back to the 13th century, the mighty tower hides a winding spiral staircase of 366 steps. At its top, sweeping vistas of the town and the countryside beyond unfold. But there are other secrets within, like the old municipal treasury rooms and music rooms. Others will recognise the belfry from the 2008 hit flick In Bruges.  A few steps further on you will see the impressive music drum that operates the carillon and the keyboard used by the city carilloneur to play the tower’s 47 carillon bells. 

An amazing surprise to experience a new Michaelango sculpture. The Madonna of Bruges is a marble sculpture by Michelangelo of the Virgin and Child. Michelangelo’s depiction of the Madonna and Child differs significantly from earlier representations of the same subject, which tended to feature a pious Virgin smiling down on an infant held in her arms. In this scuplture the son is stepping away and the madonna is just still touching his arm  allowing him to step forth.

         

It was special for Elizabeth and I to sit and ponder the mother and child.

Michael and I have experienced  other Michaelangos  and found them highlights and this experience was no exception.

We experienced  La Pièta, in the Vatican,
We have seen Moses  in  the St Peters in Chains  just out of Rome,
We have loved David in Florence
and now the Madonna and Child  here in the  Museun of the Chapel of Our Lady Bruges.

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    Beguinage as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

    As early as the 13th century, beguines inhabited the Princely Beguinage ‘Ten Wijngaarde’. Unmarried women lived together in a closed community and led a fairly independent and emancipated life there. In 1998, UNESCO recognised the Bruges beguinage, along with 12 other Flemish beguinages, as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Today, the white houses surrounding the charming courtyard garden are still inhabited by a few nuns and by women who choose a serene lifestyle. You can visit this unique piece of World Heritage freely, but at dusk, the gates continue to be firmly closed.

    The beginnings of the beguine movement

    Between the 11th and 13th centuries, women began to band together to meet their spiritual and material needs. Thus was born the beguine movement.

    To the dismay of the Church

    Although the beguines led a pious and celibate life, …

    • … they did not follow an established rule of life from the Roman Catholic Church;
    • … they did not take a vow of poverty;
    • … they were allowed to keep their properties;
    • … they were not bound by formal ‘perpetual vows’.

    Beguines had an independent and freer existence than nuns. The then-male church leaders did not like to see all this happen. Pope Clement V even declared the beguines heretics in 1311.

     

The ‘Beguinage Ten Wijngaarde’ with its white-coloured house fronts and tranquil convent garden was founded in 1245. This little piece of world heritage was once the home of the beguines, emancipated lay-women who nevertheless led a pious and celibate life. For centuries, the Bruges beguinage has been inhabited continuously. Today, some nuns from the Order of Saint Benedict and Order of Vincent de Paul live there, as well as single women from Bruges.