The historic center of Brugge is another UNESCO World Heritage site. I spent two days here. This first was dreary and devoid of tourists. The second day was sunny, crowded, and difficult to get around as the King and Queen of Belgium were entertaining the King and Queen of Jordan and doing those 'touristy' things I was doing. Here is the UNESCO video followed by lots of photos.
City Hall on May 18. Built in 1376 A.D.
Market Square
Canal view with swans and Church of Our Lady in the background.
Jan Van Eyckplein church
Market Square
St. John of Nepomuk
Church of Our Lady, 13th - 15th Century
Statue of Jan Van Eyck
Michelangelo, the Bruges Madonna. This is found in the Church of Our Lady. If you saw the movie, Monuments Men, then you surely remember them finding this statue in a salt mine in Austria.
City Hall on May 19 with people awaiting the arrival of the royals.
The Queens and their entourage. If you enlarge the photo, you can see a pink hat under the lavender awning, one of the Queens so I was told.
BTW, this is where I had the waffles with ice cream. Yum!!! Such a cozy little place.
Have you ever been inspired to visit someplace after seeing a movie? Which movie and what place?
Bonus: Hosta ventricosa
Bonus: Hosta ventricosa
It was a great movie!
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying traveling with you. It's hard to wrap my mind around the idea of buildings constructed during the 13th century still in use. Central Missouri, where I live, was wilderness less than 200 years ago.
ReplyDeleteI have a book called Lost Detroit. It talks about buildings that were torn down. Most were built in the last century. Seems we love to tear things down and start over.
DeleteInteresting to know that Queens do the same touristy things as the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteWe were apparently on the same touristy path as every time we wanted to see something they had just closed it for their visit.
DeleteI spent a day there in 2011. It's a beautiful city.
ReplyDeletehttp://sagecoveredhills.blogspot.com/2017/04/v-is-for-venus.html
I wasn't into family history when I visited Belgium in 2006. Brugge is another place to put on my list when we get there next. It looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fun city to visit. I think I would have preferred the dreary tourist free day though. WeekendsInMaine
ReplyDeleteWell, it was interesting. Police, detours, crowds...like any major event in my area but with royalty.
DeleteIt is so annoying when kings and queens mess with one's tourist schedule... :D
ReplyDeleteThe Multicolored Diary: WTF - Weird Things in Folktales
Especially since we were travelling before the 'tourist season' was set to begin. We were looking to avoid crowds, lol.
DeleteBrugges is a lovely city. My hubs had an office near Ghent so we trained it over to Belgium often. Question-do you have trouble spelling Belgium, because I always want to put the u before the i?? : )
ReplyDeleteNot before now, lol. There are words I misspell though.
DeleteAnother place I must visit - my older son was there in March with his girlfriend. They loved it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the fabulous tour! I saw that movie too and thought Brugge looked interesting. Would love to go there, one day.
ReplyDelete"Have you ever been inspired to visit someplace after seeing a movie? Which movie and what place?" That question will be answered in the "Z" post. ☺
I am looking forward to it and wondering what Z is.
DeleteBeautiful city, I've heard, and these photos definitely back that up. I guess the royal visit was exciting, even if the place was a bit crowded!
ReplyDeleteI love the canals! And the photo after the one with the swans is my favorite... with the buildings reflecting the water. The reflection of the arched bridge on the right makes it look like the building above has an open mouth.
ReplyDelete"The Girl with a Pearl Earring" (2003) triggered a desire to visit Delft in The Netherlands. I hope to visit there this fall or next spring. I forgot to include that vacation destination in a blog post I wrote a year ago: Movie Locations Inspire Vacation Destinations
The picture hangs in The Hague Museum. I did not have time to get there. Have you seen the movie Tim's Vermeer?
DeleteAnd I have many pictures of that canal. The morning reflections in the water were breathtaking.
DeleteNo, I haven't seen Tim's Vermeer! I checked the local library system, though, and they have it so I added it to my list. Thanks!
DeleteWhat a gorgeous town. Following your blog has convinced me we must go there when his lordship retires next year. Everything I've seen on here is so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteCalen~
Impromptu Promptlings
A to Z Challenge Letter U
I adore Brugge, I was last there in December for their fabulous Christmas Market. I always take a day tripfrom my town by coach rather than drive so I can enjoy a Belgiun beer or three! Chocolate, waffles, moule frites! Yum.
ReplyDeleteAnother day in Amble Bay!
I am allergic to beer, but not to sugar. Belgium was a chocolate lovers dream come true. We were in a chocolate shop when the queens arrived and they stopped traffic. What luck!
DeleteI loved visiting Brugge, such a beautiful city.
ReplyDeleteI know I visited Bruges, but it is so long ago, I don't remember much about it at all these days. Love your photos, interesting about the statue. Didn't see the movie.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous city! Your pictures certainly do it justice.
ReplyDeleteLove to visit this beautiful city. I did hear about it but didn't know much until I saw that same movie. Great pictures! I went to Budapest after watching( more than once) Going My WAy. When Rise Stevens says Budapest and looks into the mirror..I knew I had to go.
ReplyDeleteI went to Budapest in 2004. I would love to go back.
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