Airline Tickets to Brugge

Bruges is located in the Belgium province West-Flanders in a 2-hour drive from Utrecht (Holland). In the 9th century this town was conquered by the Vikings, that's why the name of the city is likely to come from the Scandinavian word 'bryggia' that means 'port'. Bruges is situated not far from the North Sea, so it became quite an important international trade centre. Later, in the middle ages, a big wall around Bruges was built.

Beguinage. It's one of the main places of interest in Bruges. It was founded in the 13th century, though the most of the white houses appeared only in the 17th and 18th centuries. The arch bridge, which forms the entrance of the Palace, was built in 1570. Beguine sisterhood doesn't live there anymore and this place belongs now to the Benedictines from De Wijngaard convent. The house under number 1 serves as the museum, so everyone can get an idea of Beguine's way of life. The kitchen, dining-room, bedrooms are furnished in style of 17th century. Primordially the main chapel was made of wood, but, unfortunately, it burnt down. In 1605 on its place the chapel in baroque style was built, it remained undamaged till our times. Everyone can visit the chapel. There one can see the oldest in Bruges image of Our Lady, created in 1240. On the right altar there is the alabaster sculpture of Christ of the 17th century.

Beguinage is situated near the Minnewater Lake, which used to be the part of the channel that connected Bruges and Ghent. Nowadays it's a small picturesque lake with beautiful swans swimming along it. There is an interesting legend in Bruges connected with swans: 'When Maximilian of Austria raised the taxes not for the first time, the citizenry of Bruges rebelled and captivated him. And the appointed town administrator, whose name was Pieter Lanchals (it means 'long neck'), was beheaded. When Maximilian got the power back, he made an order, according to which in Bruges swans (because they also have long necks) are to be bred till the end of the world. Do you know how to differ a female swan from a male swan? You can guess by the mark: male swans have it on the right clutch and female swans have on the left one.

The chapel of the Holy Blood. The chapel of the Holy Blood was built on the Basilius Chapel of the 12th century. The lower church is a wonderful example of Romanesque style. On the right nave there is a colored wooden image of the Virgin with the baby of about 1300. Primordially the chapel of the Holy Blood was built in the Romanesque style, but in the 15th century after the reconstruction it turned into a Gothic chapel. During the French revolution the basilica was ruined, and then it was rebuilt from the very beginning. The admission there is free, but for visiting the Museum of the Holy Blood you'll have to pay. As the legend says, in 1150 a part of linen with blood of Jesus was brought from Jerusalem. The duke that brought it ordered to build the Basilius Chapel, where the relic was to be kept. We can't say that it's all the truth; it's more likely that Duke Baldwin IX brought it from the crusade to Constantinople in 1203.

Read further about Brugge in our City Guide ...

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