Bruges Guide

Bruges Travel Guide

It may be a little country, but it is a lovely one. Tucked comfortably between the desirable and obvious destinations of London, Paris and Amsterdam, Belgium is a treasure-trove of undiscovered gems. It's is a country that has inspired many artists and writers with the charm of its Gothic cathedrals, town halls, gabled guildhouses and rich museums.

Belgians have a reputation for their gracious hospitality, no doubt due in part to the country's location, which has created an international crossroads for commerce and culture. Despite this, Belgium and its distinct regions of Flemish Flanders (north) and French Wallonia (south) has proudly preserved its traditions and identity.

Not the capital city of Brussels with its tall European Union office blocks and the NATO headquarters, but the medieval city of Bruges is the main draw for the informed traveller. Bruges location on an easy bike ride from the coast makes it also ideal to explore the Belgian coastal towns or do some 'shopping' in the nearby Dutch border town of Sluis. Popular daytrips from your base in Bruges are Ghent, Antwerp, Brussels and Flanders Fields, around Ypres, infamous for it's prominent role in the outcome of the 2 Great World Wars.