Clive Scorer's Photo Albums » Holidays » Bruges  (50 Slides)     [Page 1 of 2] :: Jump To  
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We had always fancied a trip to Bruges on Eurostar, and in October 2011 we finally made it with another Great Rail Journeys trip. We stayed in Bruges, and had a day's excursion to Ghent and Ypres ( I'll stick to the English names, rather than using the Dutch Brugge, Gent and Ieper).
We started our first full day in Bruges with a guided tour of the city. This is the 15th Century Burghers' Lodge on Jan van Eyckplein.
Houses on Jan van Eyckplein, with the Old Tollhouse (1477) and Pijndershuisje (house of a pijnder or docker), the narrowest house in Bruges, on the left.
Everywhere in Bruges you see statues of the Virgin Mary and child. This is on the corner of Jan van Eyckplein.
The chip (as in French Fries) museum, Bruges. The building is the 14th century Saaihalle built for Genoese merchants.
Huis ter Beurze (1276), Bruges. This was an inn, and merchants met in front of it to conduct stock exchange business. This is the derivation of the Dutch word 'beurs' for stock exchange.
   
   
   
   
   
The bell tower and covered market, Bruges. Dating from the 13th century (the belfry was added in the 15th century) it is 300ft (88m) high. And it is leaning (by 3ft).
Buildings on the north side of the Markt (market square) opposite the Bell Tower.
West side of the Markt, Bruges. The building on the right is the 15th century Huis Bouchoute with weathervane and compass.
The Town Hall (Stadhuis) on the Burg, Bruges. Built between 1376 and 1420. The flags are (l to r) EU; Belgium; Flanders and Bruges.
Next to the Town Hall is the Basilica of the Holy Blood (Heilig-Bloedbasiliek). 1534 facade in front of a 12th century chapel.
   
   
   
   
   
Looking back to the Bell Tower from the old Salt Quay (Rozenhoedkaai)...
...and looking along the canal from Rozenhoedkaai towards the Church of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk).
The 15th century Gruuthuse, Bruges. 'Gruut' is a herb mixture used to flavour beer before hops were introduced.
Side street, Bruges.
The Bell Tower from the courtyard between the covered markets. There are 366 steps to the top of the tower, and we were about to go up...
   
   
   
   
   
... to get this view over Bruges right up to Zeebrugge on the coast. The building in the foreground is the former Jesuit Church of the Sacred Heart (Heilig Hartkerk).
St Saviour's Cathedral (Sint-Salvatorskathedraal) from the Bell Tower. The modern building behind it is the new Concert Hall.
Church of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk) from the Bell Tower. The 400ft (122m) tower, built 1250-1340 (with spire added 100 years later), is the 2nd highest brick tower in the world.
Standing under the bells in the tower when the 3 o'clock carillon (47 bells) played. It was loud.
The next day we had a coach trip - first stop Ghent. This is the 12th century Saint-Jacob's church.
   
   
   
   
   
Town Hall (Stadhuis) Ghent. Two distinct building phases can be seen - early 16th century on the right, and Renaissance (built 60 years later) on the left.
Behind the Town Hall is St Nicholas' Church (Sint-Niklaaskerk).
Ghent's Belfry, 398ft (91m) high, was completed in 1380.
Cloth Hall (Lakenhalle) in front of the Belfry, Ghent.
On the opposite side of Sint-Baafsplein to the Cloth Hall is Ghent's 14th-16th century St Bavo's Cathedral (Sint-Baafskathedraal).
   
   
   
   
   
Album last updated on 25 November 2011
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