Belgium much more than just Beer, Waffles & Chocolate

I first heard about Bruges in the Movie "In Bruge" from 2008. It's no exaggeration this charming city is truly like a f***in fairytale.

From the Lake of Tears to the Gothic Cathedrals. From the paved streets to the quaint canals everywhere you look there is a postcard perfect picture waiting to snap.

Segway

Bicycle, Horse and Cart, Canal Boat, on Foot, there are so many ways to explore this city but nothing beats the Segway tour.

We zipped around all the sights but what I find best about these tours is they are often given by a very knowledgeable local guide. Our guide Gerhard was excellent and I would highly recommend him. We got so see some parts of the city that you wouldn't get to on foot.

Sint-Annakerk

The beauty of getting a tour is the local knowledge. We would probably never have entered this simple looking church except for our Segway Guide. Inside the rich Baroque interior, a little overwhelming, was a beautiful experience.

The Church of Our Lady

This towering building near the center of the city is impossible to miss. It is the tallest structure in the city and the second tallest brickwork tower in the world. At 115m high this is one of the most photogenic buildings I have seen. Every angle gives a great shot.

The inside of this Church is a must see as it houses the famous Madonna and Child by Michelangelo.

The Madonna and Child

This statue was purchased by merchants of Bruge and donated to its present home in the 16th century. It was twice looted by foreign powers but has been restored to its rightful home.

Quaint Houses

We arrived in Bruge by train and walked to the our BnB in the old city. As we approached the city though the quaint paved streets the charm of the city began to take hold.

The Canals

We then got to the canals where you can stroll by day or night. Such a peaceful place.

The Bell Tower

In the center of the city is the Bell Tower. In medieval cities the sound of bells ruled the lives of its citizens. Bells were used as a way of organizing the lives of the citizens.

If you have seen In Bruge this is where a lot of the action was!

There are a lot of steps but not only do you get stunning views of the city but you get to see the inside of the bell tower and the music box that makes the different sounds.

A Multisig Lock from the Middle Ages

Inside the Belfry was one of the discoveries of the trip. A Multisig Lock from the middle ages.

In this chest the city charters and other important documents of the city were stored. There were ten locks in the door. Eight were in the hands of the deacons and guilds of trades. The remaining two were kept by the head of the Sint Janszestendeel, a district in the city, and the mayor. All the keys were needed in order to open the door. The chests were rarely opened and usually involved a big ceremony on such occasions.

Minnewater Lake - The Lake of Tears

At one end of the city there is the most beautiful park and Lake.

Don't miss the lake of tears where legend has it a lady who lost her husband to the crusades filled the lake with her tears. It now is a lovely place to stroll and see the Ducks and other wildlife.

You can walk in the park or laze away the day in a tea room by the lake. In Bruge there are tea rooms all over the city. It seems to be the thing there.

The Oldest Pub in Belgium

When we passed this pub on our Segway our guide told us it was the oldest pub in Belgium. I made a mental note to come back that evening.

Unfortunately when we returned it was shut. At just half 10! So Disappointing, and it was our last night in Bruge so we didn't get to see inside at all.

The Potato Museum

In Begium they are even more mad about potatoes than the Irish. They even have a Potato Museum with Potato and Chip Art on the Walls and all things Potato related.

Ireland did get a mention though!

Frites

Finally got great Frites. Being a bit disappointed by the fites we tasted in Ghent we were happy we finally got some great ones in Bruges.

Waffles

We also had some of the best waffles here in Bruges.

In the next post, the last in this series, I will share more mouthwatering photos of the amazing Waffles and Frites we had in Belgium.