Bruges

Why Bruges works

Bruges peaked as a trading hub in the 13th to 15th centuries, its canals connecting it directly to the North Sea and making it one of northern Europe's wealthiest cities — until the Zwin channel silted up and trade moved to Antwerp, leaving Bruges economically frozen and, inadvertently, architecturally preserved. That accident of geography is why the entire historic centre survives largely unchanged today, earning it UNESCO World Heritage status as one of Europe's best-preserved medieval towns. The Belfry, a 13th-century bell tower rising 83 metres over the Markt square, rewards a 366-step climb with panoramic views over the red-tiled roofs and canals below; its 47-bell carillon still rings out over the city on schedule. Rozenhoedkaai, a canal bend framed by gabled townhouses, is Bruges' most photographed corner, especially by boat on one of the canal tours that thread beneath low stone bridges past swans that, by local legend, have swum here since a 15th-century count decreed it in penance. The Basilica of the Holy Blood houses a relic said to be cloth stained with Christ's blood, brought back from the Crusades, while the Groeningemuseum holds an outstanding collection of Flemish Primitive paintings. Chocolate and lace shops line nearly every street, both crafts with genuine centuries-old roots here rather than tourist invention.

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