Page 16 - ARUBA TODAY

a16 feature
Friday 11 august 2017
Beautiful Bruges: Old-world Europe in the present

By JOHN MARSHALL
Associated Press
BRUGES, Belgium (AP) —
Walking through central
Bruges is like a romantic
journey into the past.
With centuries-old gabled
buildings lining a web of
canals and cobblestone
streets, the vibe is quintes-
sential old-world Europe.
Bruges also is one of the
most beautiful cities in
Western Europe, a place
that has been called the
Venice of the North.
Located about an hour
northwest of Brussels not far
from the North Sea, Bruges
is the capital of West Flan-
ders in the Flemish region
of Belgium. The city was
spared major damage
during the two world wars,
so much of its medieval ar-
chitecture is intact, earning
the historic center of town
a UNESCO World Heritage
Site designation in 2000.
Just walking the streets and
along the canals is worth
the trip, but there are a
few must-see sites around
the city, including an ear-
ly work by Michelangelo. This June 13, 2017 photo shows a row of gilded houses in Bruges, Belgium. Some of the houses date to the 16th Century and avoided
Here are some: damage during both world wars, leaving much of the city as it was centuries ago.
(AP Photo/John Marshall)
THE MARKT and postwar modern art. east side of town, the Saint
The large square at the The main focus of the col- John’s House Mill also is
city center is one of the lection is the works of the the only mill still in its origi-
most picturesque and Flemish Primitives, includ- nal spot and still grinding
bustling places in Bruges. ing Jan van Eyck, Hans grain. Closed on Mondays.
A marketplace starting Memling and Hugo van Adults, 3 euros; seniors, 2
in 958, The Markt (Market der Goes. Adults, 8 euros, euros, kids 11 and under
Square) is often filled with seniors, 6 euros, kids 11 and free.
pedestrians and bicycles under free.
crisscrossing past statues NORTH SEA
of medieval freedom fight- BEGIJNHOF Belgium has a small coast-
ers Jan Breydel and Pieter This site is a quiet escape line along the North Sea,
de Coninck. The square from the hustle and bustle but it’s worth seeing (in the
is framed by the majestic in the rest of the city center. summer, at least) and only
Belfry Tower and Provincial Founded in 1245, it was the about 30 minutes from Bru-
Palace, seat of the West home of Beguines, a group ges. Oostende is the largest
Flanders Provincial Court. of women who lived pious town and the main trans-
Old, gilded houses with lives without being part of a portation and fishing hub.
cafes on the ground floor convent or monastery. Now Beach towns dot the coast,
line the rest of the square. This June 13, 2017 photo shows one of the many canals that a home for sisters of the St. from Knokke near the Neth-
wind through Bruges in northern Belgium. The city was left
Wednesday is market day, largely intact during the two world wars and has been called Benedict Order, it features erlands to De Panne near
where traditional Belgian the Venice of the North because of its beauty. an expansive lawn planted France. The beaches and
fare can be found. (AP Photo/John Marshall) with poplars, homes, an dunes are perfect for a
real treat is Michelangelo’s that won’t be completed active church and a small wide range of outdoor
CHURCH OF OUR LADY marble “Madonna and until next year. museum that recreates the activities, from swimming
The spire of Our Lady tow- Child,” believed to be cre- living quarters of a Beguine. and wind surfing to land
ers above the city at 381 ated around 1505 and the GROENINGE MUSEUM yachting (think sailboat
feet (116 meters) and only one of his statues to Built on the site of the me- SAINT JOHN’S HOUSE MILL on wheels). The North Sea
claims to be one of the leave Italy during his life- dieval Eekhout Abbey, the The Netherlands is famous is very shallow, so low tide
world’s tallest brick struc- time. Tickets for the muse- Groeninge Museum has a for its multitude of wind- could mean a long walk to
tures. Inside it’s like an art um are 6 euros for adults, 5 wide range of Belgian art, mills, but Bruges has four reach the water.
museum, filled with ex- euros for seniors and kids 11 including paintings from of its own. The Saint John’s
quisite paintings, detailed and under free. Note: The the 18th and 19th century House Mill, built in 1770, is Online: https://www.visit-
woodcarving and elabo- church is currently under- neoclassical and realist pe- the only one open to visi- bruges.be
rately-painted tombs. The going a major renovation riods, Flemish expressionism tors. Located on the north-