Bruges, 2nd

by Antony Mason

• ISBN13: 9781860112133
• ISBN10: 1860112137
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2005-12-01
• Publisher: Cadogan Books

Summary

The most visited city in Belgium after Brussels, Bruges attracts over a million tourists a year. Despite its popularity, Bruges remains a remarkable urban heirloom, with crooked streets, restored guildhouses and palaces and two of the most fascinating medieval art collections in Europe. Cadogan's new city guide reveals these historical charms, without overlooking the fine restaurants and stylish bars that keep Bruges buzzing with life. The guide explores the city's famously chic fashion stores and takes in the acclaimed WW1 battlefield tours. Whether visitors are looking for the old Bruges or the new, Cadogan uncovers all the attractions of Belgium's most intimate city. Also includes information on gateway cities Brussels and Ostend, making it practical for those that fly or drive.

Author Biography

Antony Mason is the author of some sixty books, including biographies, atlases, books on exploration and great civilizations, and the Wild West and travel guides. He now lives and works in London, but for many years has been a frequent visitor to Bruges and Belgium, and so convinced was he of the charms of the Belgians that he married one.

Table of Contents

Introducing
Introduction	p. 1
The Neighbourhoods	p. 2
Days Out in Bruges	p. 5
Other Great Belgian Cities	p. 15
Roots of the City	p. 19
Art and Architecture	p. 37
The Guide
Travel	p. 47
Getting There	p. 48
Tour Operators	p. 52
Entry Formalities	p. 53
Arrival	p. 53
Getting Around	p. 54
Practical A-Z	p. 57
Climate	p. 58
Crime and the Police	p. 58
Disabled Travellers	p. 58
Electricity, Weights and Measures	p. 60
Embassies and Consulates	p. 60
Emergencies	p. 61
Health and Insurance	p. 61
Internet	p. 61
Media	p. 62
Money and Banks	p. 62
Opening Hours	p. 63
Packing	p. 63
Photography	p. 63
Post and Fax	p. 64
Smoking	p. 64
Students	p. 64
Telephones	p. 64
Time	p. 64
Tipping	p. 65
Toilets	p. 65
Tourist Information	p. 65
Central Bruges	p. 67
The Markt	p. 70
The Belfort	p. 70
Provinciaal Hof	p. 71
Bruges Matins Statue	p. 72
Markt Facades	p. 72
The Burg	p. 72
Heilig-Bloedbasiliek	p. 73
Stadhuis	p. 73
Oude Griffie	p. 74
Landshuis van het Brugse Vrije	p. 74
Huis de Zeven Torens	p. 75
Pavilion on the Burg	p. 75
Proostdij	p. 76
Blinde Ezelstraat	p. 76
Vismarkt and Around	p. 76
Vismarkt	p. 76
Groenerei	p. 76
De Pelikaan	p. 76
Huidenvettersplein	p. 76
Rozenhoedkaai	p. 77
Nepomucenusbrug	p. 77
De Malvenda House	p. 77
Hof van Watervliet	p. 77
North of the Markt	p. 78
Choco-Story: The Chocolate Museum	p. 78
Southern Bruges	p. 79
The Groeningemuseum and Around	p. 82
Arentshuis (Brangwyn-museum)	p. 83
Europa College	p. 84
Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk and Around	p. 84
Bonifaciusbrug	p. 84
Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk	p. 84
Gruuthusemuseum	p. 86
Guido Gezelleplein	p. 86
Sint-Janshospitaal and the Memlingmuseum	p. 87
Museum Voor Archeologie	p. 89
Mariabrug	p. 89
Begijnhof	p. 89
Beguinhuisje	p. 89
Minnewater	p. 90
Almshouses	p. 91
Huisbrouwerij De Halve Maan	p. 91
Diamantmuseum	p. 92
Koningin Astridpark and Around	p. 92
Sint-Magdalenakerk	p. 92
Gentpoort	p. 92
Northeastern Bruges	p. 93
Around Onze-Lieve-Vrouw ter Potterie	p. 96
Bisschoppelijk Seminarie	p. 96
Duinenbrug	p. 96
Sint-Gilliskerk	p. 97
Kantcentrum and Jeruzalemkerk	p. 97
Museum voor Volkskunde	p. 98
De Zwarte Kat	p. 98
Sint-Annakerk	p. 98
Sint-Walburgakerk	p. 99
Guido Gezellemuseum and Around	p. 102
Schuttersgilde Sint-Sebastiaan	p. 102
Schuttersgilde Sint-Joris	p. 104
Engels Klooster	p. 104
Kruispoort and Around	p. 104
Bruges' Windmills	p. 104
Muur der Doodgeschotenen	p. 105
Western Bruges	p. 107
Sint-Salvatorskathedraal and Steenstraat	p. 110
Sint-Salvatorskathedraal	p. 110
Bisschoppelijk Paleis Hof van Pittem	p. 111
Steenstraat	p. 111
Simon Stevinplein	p. 111
Around's Zand	p. 111
Concertgebouw Brugge	p. 112
Boeveriestraat	p. 112
Hendrik Consciencelaan	p. 113
Boeverievest	p. 113
Smedenpoort	p. 114
Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van de Blindekens	p. 114
Around Sint-Jakobskerk	p. 115
Sint-Jakobskerk	p. 115
Hof Bladelin	p. 115
Muntplein	p. 117
Prinsenhof	p. 117
Around Ezelpoort	p. 118
Ezelpoort	p. 118
Joseph Ryelandtzaal	p. 118
A Walk Around Mercantile Bruges	p. 119
Day Trips	p. 125
Damme	p. 126
Ostend	p. 128
Ghent	p. 131
Antwerp	p. 138
Ypres	p. 146
Brussels	p. 149
Around the Grand' Place	p. 152
Where to Stay	p. 153
Eating Out	p. 153
Shopping	p. 154
Coudenberg	p. 154
Marolles and Sablon	p. 155
North Central	p. 156
Quartier Leopold	p. 157
Outside the Centre	p. 159
Listings
Where to Stay	p. 161
Eating Out	p. 169
Nightlife and Entertainment	p. 181
Shopping	p. 186
Sports and Green Spaces	p. 191
Children and Teenagers' Bruges	p. 195
Festivals	p. 198
Reference
Language	p. 200
Index	p. 205
Maps
Unmissable Bruges
The Neighbourhoods	p. 2
Central Bruges	p. 68
Southern Bruges	p. 80
Northeastern Bruges	p. 94
Western Bruges	p. 109
A Walk Around Mercantile Bruges	p. 120
Day Trips	p. 126
Ghent	p. 133
Antwerp	p. 138
Brussels	p. 150
The Grand' Place	p. 152
Hotels and Hostels	p. 164
Restaurants and Cafes	p. 174
Colour Street Maps
Off the Beaten Track
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

                                                                                                                                                                                                 'Today Bruges prospers again, as one of the most visited cities in Europe. There was perhaps a danger that it could become a sterile museum city, a cash cow for cynical residents. Not a bit of it. Centuries-old traditions of hospitality, artistic ingenuity and a mercantile quest for comfort and well-being have come together to make Bruges one of the most pleasurable and rewarding places to visit.'

---

Excerpted from Cadogan Guide Bruges by Antony Mason
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.