Visiting Enchanting Bruges, Belgium

I visited Bruges, Belgium, for a couple of days and was totally surprised by the beauty of this medieval town. I had seen pictures online ofcourse and choosed this town based on those great previews. Often the pictures are professional and seems better then the real thing…. But here it was the same, the whole city is just enchanting!

Voor de Nederlandse versie van Betoverend Brugge, Belgie

At every corner where I cycled, I took the camper of my father so a bike was included, I stopped and stared and took a lot of pictures! Not often I am this much surprised by the beauty of a city.

Visiting the Enchanting city of Bruges

Walking/cycling to explore Bruges

There are a lot of canals running through the city and you get such great views and reflections because fo that, especially with those great old buildings next to it. In a lot of places I just felt like being in a fairytale.

Enchanting Bruges – Belgium

That first night I went to the centre during sunset to see the great cityhall on the main square. It took a while before I got there because I had to stop every now and then. I saw so many great sights, so many great places.

It really was Enchanting!

Doesn’t this look wonderful?

This little pond is called Minnewater. It is in the centre of Bruges close to the, also famous because of its beauty, Begijnhof Ten Wijngaerde.

When I finally got at the Grote Markt, the main sqaure at city hall, there was a big podium placed in the middle so I couldn’t get the cityhall on my picture.. But look at this facade, with the sun shining on it? Isn’t that wonderful?

The square is great, and with this as a view you have lots to see sitting on one of the many terraces. I obviously sat there for a while, enjoying this great view, the good weather, all the people enjoying it too and…my choice to take the camper of my dad on the 3 days off of work!

Holy Blood Procession – Bruges

As you see I had great weather during my visit. And without knowing it I found myself locked up in the innercity of Bruges because of the big Holy Blood Procession they have every year on ascension day in Bruges. It is a big procession and the whole city seems to be there to enjoy it! 

I stood there for a while, enjoying the crowd but most of all the people that were part of the procession. Wauw, they really got in there mideavel act! They were dressed till the last perfection, great! If you think about going to Bruges it is worth trying to be there on the 5th of may.

I had great weather that day .. It always helps with enjoying outside activities of course!

Visiting Enchanting Bruges – Belgium

It was so busy in the innercity, half of the city citizins were there I think. It took a while before I realized I was locked in the innercity. I tried different roads but I stumpled onto the procession every time and at some point I went through this procession with some others that crossed it too 🙂

 Gates to the city – Bruges, Belgium

The city of Bruges is an old one and so the inner city is surrounded by water because of its defense purposes. I really like that of old cities and really enjoy walking or cycling on those high walls and getting some great views along the water side. Often it is a green part of the city  From there you can see the other suburbs outside the inner city and it is a relaxing place to sit down and enjoy your time.

Ezelpoort – Enchanting Bruges

One of the four remaining gates is: Ezelpoort. Translated into Donkey Gate. It was first founded in 1297…and it is so hard to even imagine that time and age. It is here already for such long time!! In 1369 it got rebuild and after that there are a lot of renovations of course. The gate is fully surrounded by water and that is typical for this gate. If you would walk this gate and follow the road all the way to the end….you get to Oostende, at the coastline of Belgium. Because of that they also call this gate ‘Oostendsche’ Gate.

Picture perfect! Bruges – Belgium

The beautiful Smedenpoort

&

The Kruispoort – Bruges

Again such great view at the beautiful city gate with in the background the mill called Sint Janshuismolen.

The mill has been replaced a couple of times and the one standing there right now dates back to 1770!

This one still works as a cornmill.

I unfortunately missed 1 gate, called the kruispoort. When I see pictures online it is a wonderful mideavel building!! How could I miss that? Why didn’t I go all the way round the city?? I went back into the inner city to enjoy the beauty too soon…

Bruges by Night

After diner on the main sqaure it is great cycling back to the place my camper was. The city is wonderful in the dark and is light at several places! Again enchanting, isn’t it?

Enchanting Bruges

Tip

It you would like to make great panorama pictures of Bruges you definitely should go up Belfort or Halle Tower in Bruges. The great building in the picture shown above. It is situated on the main square at city hall and stands 83 metres high. This will give you that great view over the city! It was closed at the time of my visit unfortunately.

Visiting Bruges by camper

My camper parkingplace was just outside of the centre. From the highway it is easy to find and within a couple of minutes I was ready to visit the centre. It was just like parking in a parkinglot, get a ticket and save that untill you leave and pay your time. It costs 25 euro a day in summertime, wintertime will costs you 19 euro a day. The place is a parkinglot but has grass surrounding it so my early morning cup of coffee was enjoyed on the grass and next to some trees and plants.

This camperplace is called Kanaaleiland, it was good and quiet. Everything is there from water to fill you camper and to empty it there are drains. It is situated in the harbour so you can enjoy that scenery too. It is really 5 minutes cycling and about 10 minutes walking into the city centre of Bruges, great spot!!

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