Brugge Design Hotels

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.
Read more: guide to Brugge with maps, photos and weather conditions.

This article about Brugge is copyrighted by the our editorial team, & can only be reused with a link to www.orangesmile.com