NORTHERN EUROPE • —> THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS OF THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS OF BRUGES

Bruges is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, and justifiably so, as a walk around the center will quickly show.

IT WAS IN BRUGES IN ABOUT 1473 that the printer Bruges’ Oldest Building is believed to have published the The oldest building in Bruges is the Sint- world’s first book in English. If he returned today Janshospitaal (St. John’s Hospital), which was to the city in which he lived for thirty-three years, founded in the twelfth century. There are numerous he could probably still find his way around what is medieval buildings in the center, from the grandest regarded as the best-preserved medieval city in of churches to humble cottages, and it is this Europe. The whole of the city center is a UNESCO contrast that makes Bruges so special. It retains World Heritage Site. the feel of a complete medieval city, unlike some When the English poet William Wordsworth where only the largest and most important visited Bruges, he wrote that he felt “a deeper buildings have survived. Bruges is a city where peace than in deserts found.” In fact, the city, you can see that ordinary people lived, not just which is the capital of the West province the wealthy and influential. The best time to visit of Belgium, was almost too perfect for the novelist Of course, many wealthy people lived here, Bruges’ Markt is on Arnold Bennett, who visited in 1896 and wrote for Bruges was one of the most important a Wednesday morning, that whereas in most cities you seek out the in Europe. This was the reason Caxton was here in when the market is held there, or in December for picturesque, “in Bruges, assailed on every side the first place. Many rich European noblemen lived the traditional Christmas by the picturesque, you look curiously for the in Bruges, and this gave Caxton access to their market. unpicturesque, and don’t find it easily.” libraries. They were here because in medieval times

The of Bruges POPULATION 120,000 WHAT TO TAKE Your camera; also be ACCOMMODATION Bruges has some are beautiful at any prepared for wet weather. wonderful, characterful hotels in the city CURRENCY Euro time: winter, summer, center, but it is hugely popular, so you day, or night. BEST TIME Any time is a good time, but CLIMATE Bruges has a temperate need to book ahead. summer gets crowded, so spring and fall climate, with pleasant summers that are good bets if the weather cooperates. never get too hot, and though it gets You want to see Bruges in the sunshine. cold in winter, it seldom snows. It can rain at any time of the year, and is NEAREST AIRPORT Most flights for slightly wetter in summer. Bruges will go to Airport, from where you need to take a train into —> FACT FILE Brussels and then change to the Bruges trains, which are frequent.

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