BELGIUM: CYCLING BRUGES ‘THE VENICE OF THE NORTH’ BY BIKE BELGIUM: CYCLING BRUGES Bruges; The Venice of the North, is Belgium's most treasured medieval city. Discovering the rich architecture SUMMARY of churches, abbeys, castles and windmills, combined with heavenly chocolate shops and mouth-watering Belgian cuisine makes this the perfect four day cycling tour. Bruges is unique in that town authorities have taken great care to preserve the city as a living monument to the region's rich past. During the 17th century, Bruges' lace industry became popular and the canals were restored, however, it was not until the late 19th century that Bruges became a popular destination for tourists. Bruges is not only a UNESCO world heritage site, but also a place of great charm and prosperity. Your cycling holiday is based in Bruges; the town centre is reminiscent of a fairy tale with stone footbridges, picturesque canals and cobblestone streets curving past turreted manor houses. The heart of the town centres around the bustling market square; The Markt is dominated by a 13th-century belfry, housing a municipal carillon comprising of 48 bells that ring out across the square. The square, is crammed with busy restaurants and bars that serve everything from mussels and frites to traditional Flemish Beef Stew, Belgian Waffles, and a range of beer-based dishes such as Carbonnades Flamandes. Tour: Belgium: Cycling Bruges The music of bells is everywhere in Bruges, from the clinking belfries to the tinkering bells of bicycles Code: CBSBCB bumping over the cobbles, of all things to do in this town, the best is to simply cycle, listen and look. Your Type: Self-Guided Cycling Holiday holiday will be filled admiring the medieval houses, tempting window displays of lace and diamonds and Price: See Website chocolates laid out like jewels. Dates: Departs every Sunday 24 March - 27 October Your tour includes 4 nights in a 4* hotel in Bruges, 5 breakfasts, 3 day Bruges city card, a detailed Days: 6 Days (4 Cycling Days) information pack including route notes, maps and places of interest, emergency support from our local Nights: 5 Nights representative. Bike hire is available as an optional extra. Start/Finish: Bruges Grade: Easy to Moderate Closest Airport: Brussels Airport HIGHLIGHTS Is It For Me? Bruges is a must see; with medieval roof- Admire the well preserved architecture tops, a history that spans back to the Vikings and canals that credit the city as Europe’s Cycling through fields, canals, dunes and the coast ’Venice of the North’. The cycling is graded Visit the picturesque village of Damme and coastal town of Knokke from Easy to Moderate so perfect for occa- View the impressive 17th century windmills sional leisure cyclists. Enjoy the mouth – watering Belgian cuisine and world famous beers What’s Included? WHY CHOOSE A SELF GUIDED CYCLING HOLIDAY WITH US? Accommodation: 5 Nights 4* hotel in Macs Adventure is a small, energetic company dedicated to delivering adventure excellence. We are Bruges passionate about delivering outstanding cycling holidays where every last detail is taken care of. Each trip Meals: 5 breakfasts. we offer is unique and tailor made to meet your requirements. From your first contact with Macs Adventure Information Pack: Detailed route notes, you will deal with a local specialist who knows the region intimately. Self guided cycling holidays are a map, pre-departure information, points of interest and recommendations as well as wonderful relaxed way to discover the magic of Belgium where you are free to travel at your own pace and emergency phone support from our local wander off the beaten track. From the moment you decide to visit Belgium you can relax and look forward to representative. an unforgettable self-guided cycling holiday. We hope that you will choose to travel with Macs Adventure soon. BELGIUM: CYCLING BRUGES ‘THE VENICE OF THE NORTH’ BY BIKE DAY 2 DAY 4 ITINERARY Cycle around Bruges Cycle the surroundings of Bruges Code: CBSBCB The best way to see the sights of Bruges is from Today you leave the city and cycle out to the Days: 6 (4 Cycling Days) the saddle of your bike, a cycle through the open countryside, you head south towards the Nights: 5 cobbled streets of central Bruges offers you Wijnendale Castle; one of history’s most skylines of gable roofs, charming bridges over important medieval fortresses. You will explore an ever changing landscape of heathland, sparse Day Route Miles the canals, and an abundance of mediaeval public buildings and churches, everywhere you forest and remote farms as you cycle through look you will find haphazard clumps of parked this region. You return by passing Beisbroek 1 Arrive Bruges forest and castle where you can visit the nature 2 Cycle around Bruges 9 bicycles, with hungry owners enjoying the best of reserve or the grandiose mansion; Tudor Castle. 3 Cycle to the Flemish 46 Bruges hospitality nearby. Art lovers can visit the Museum of Permeke; a 4 coast At the end of your cycle, head back to the Markt Cycle the surroundings 27 famous Belgian painter and sculptor. and find Kemelstraat street; this little cobbled 5 of Bruges Cycle: 27 miles / 45 km 6 Loop cycle to the coast 40 alleyway is where you will find many gems for the Onward travel thirsty cyclist, or finish your day with a hearty Overnight: 4 star NH Brugge, Bruges Flemish stew, made with locally brewed beer, Total Miles 122 served at an array of quaint, Flemish family run DAY 5 restaurant's. Loop cycle to the coast and t’Zwin nature DAY 1 Cycle: 9 miles / 15 km reserve Arrive Bruges Overnight: 4 star NH Brugge, Bruges Cycle along the tree-lined Damse Vaart canal, stopping to admire the traditional windmills Arrive in Bruges and spend the afternoon at DAY 3 dotted across the countryside, to the small leisure exploring this traditional medieval town. The Flemish Coast medieval town of Damme, hidden in the heart of Bruges has something for everyone from the old the Flemish polders. It is a smaller copy of its town centre with its narrow cobbled alleys and North of the city is a scenic expanse of flat land bigger neighbour Bruges and is know as ‘the preserved historic heritage to the dreamy canals that was reclaimed from the sea, known as centre of gastronomy’ making it a perfect stop and picturesque market squares. This free Polder Country. This area is ideal for cycling, for lunch. Afterwards cycle along the Napoleon afternoon gives you the chance to discover the with poplar trees and still bodies of water canal towards the Siphon and onto Knokke; 19th and 20th century architecture and stretching to the coast. The romantic and quiet regarded as ‘the most exclusive beach city in the whitewashed almshouses that all evoke a world village of Lissewege is a pleasant place to take a country’. long since gone. break as you head to the coast. Cycling via De Haan; a village which has protected the ‘Belle Knokke Zwin Nature reserve is close by, at high In the evening you can enjoy the carillon chimes Epoque’ style from the 19th century, you will tide the sea washes over the salt marshes seep through the cobbled streets as you stroll reach Ostend, Belgium´s most famous seaside beyond the beach and sand dunes, as a result it through the romantically light centre or hop resort. Spend this afternoon exploring the wide is a unique biotype for numerous birds and aboard a canal boat to admire the gothic beaches, fishing ports and of course the plants. On your return back to Bruges you cycle buildings from a different angle. Barquentine Mercator; a museum training ship through the pleasant fortified town of Sluis which has a rich past and an international and Overnight: 4 star NH Brugge, Bruges for the Belgian merchant fleet, before heading back to Bruges for your overnight stay. exuberant character. This 17th century converted monastery offers modern accommodation in the historic centre of Cycle: 46 miles / 75 km Cycle: 40 miles / 65 km Bruges. You can enjoy a famous Belgium beer in Overnight: 4 star NH Brugge, Bruges Overnight: 4 star NH Brugge, Bruges the Bar Jan Breydel or an intimate Flemish meal at Ter Boeverie. BELGIUM: CYCLING BRUGES ‘THE VENICE OF THE NORTH’ BY BIKE DAY 6 Bike Rental PRICE & AVAILABILITY Onward Travel Bike rental is available as an optional extra. The rental bikes are hybrid style bikes with a minimum of 7 gears and we would ask that you Availability HOLIDAY INFORMATION bring your own helmet. The trip departs every Sunday between the 24th of March and 27th October. Grade & Fitness The terrain on this holiday is flat with daily TRAVEL INFORMATION Price distances ranging from 9 - 46 miles (15 - 75km). Detailed up to date prices are available on our Getting to Bruges website. The route follows traffic free cycle paths and Air - Brussels is the closest international airport quiet roads although there can be more traffic Included and is serviced by Ryanair, Easyjet & BA from around towns. UK airports. 5 Nights is a 4* hotel in Bruges From Brussels airport you can take the train to Accommodation 5 Breakfasts Bruges (approx. 90mins) you will have to change Your tour includes five nights in Bruges at a in either Brussels Midi, or Brussels Zuid. 3 day Bruges city card stylish four star hotel. We specifically selected Detailed route book, maps and pre-departure your accommodation in a comfortable hotel to Rail - Eurostar from London St Pancras to information pack. ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay Brussels Midi (approx.