The tourist maps identify this location as the “postcard picture spot,” and for good reason. The reflection of the bell tower is stunning at night, and not so bad at sunrise as well. Bruges (Brugge in Flemish/Dutch) is called the “Venice of the North” for its lovely canals and medieval buildings. The bell tower is a prominent feature above the market square in the central part of the historic city center, 83 m (272 feet) high. Originally built in 1240, it has been struck by lightning, burned, and added on to over the years. It once had a wooden spire above the current structure which lasted only 6 years after it was constructed (another lightning victim). The bell tower was also featured in the dark comedy “In Bruges” starring Brendan Gleeson, Colin Farrell, and Ralph Fiennes.

Despite the apparent absence of humans in the scene (though there are two people on a porch across the canal) there were about 40 people crowded around this spot snapping pictures- especially lots of glamour selfies. The ribbed structure on the bottom right is a cover for one of the many tour boats that patrol the canals during the day.

Tags:   Bruges Brugge bell tower belfry blue hour dusk Belfort van Brugge

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The waterways of Belgium make for pleasant routes between towns. There are usually paths that parallel the canals providing beautiful bike routes- you can see part of our group heading to Ghent on the right side of the photo. This canal was part of a system built in the 16th century to facilitate commerce among the cities of Flanders (western Belgium).

Tags:   Ostend-Bruges-Ghent canal Belgium morning light reflections bicycling

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The statue of Jan Breydel looks to the full moon rising over the Provincial Court building and Markt Square in Bruges (Brugge). Breydel, leader of the butchers, along with Pieter de Coninck, head of the weavers, led a rebellion against the French in 1302 and are considered heroes of the town. The Markt has been used as a place to buy, sell, or barter for goods since 958. When we visited an Easter carnival was ongoing, with cheesy rides for the kids.

Tags:   Bruges Brugge Belgium Markt Square Jan Breydel Pieter de Coninck full moon night provincial court Provinciaal Hof

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The wonderfully ornate late-Gothic Bruges City Hall (Stadhuis) catches the late day sun as a father and his daughters whiz by on their bikes and trailer. The building was completed in 1421, with additions (and subtractions following the French Revolution) over the years, reaching its present form in the late 18th century. One of the earliest city halls in this style, it influenced those in many other Flemish cities, including Brussels, Ghent, and Oudenaarde. You can see the pairs of statues of knights, saints, and noblemen adorning the front- most of these are replicas of the originals, some of which were destroyed after the French Revolution. The flags of the European Union, Belgium, and West Flanders wave gently in the breeze.

One of my favorite building elements is the chimney on the right crest of the roof with the bricks spiraling around it.

Tags:   Bruges Bruges City Hall Stadhuis van Brugge Hôtel de ville de Bruges cobble stone late-Gothic architecture

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Lions, warriors, cherubs, and mythical beasts provide the ornamentation above the doorway of a building near the Jan Van Eyck Square, an important commercial district dating back to the 13th century. This building is relatively new, dating to the mid-1700's and restored in the late 19th century. Apparently Sint Jacob (Saint James) also keeps an eye out for vagabonds who might try to enter the premises.

Buildings in Bruges and other towns of the "Low Countries" (Belgium and the Netherlands) were characterized by brickwork rather than the larger stones found to the south in France. Large rocks had to be imported from elsewhere, so the local builders relied on bricks for construction. The Bell Tower in Bruges was one of the tallest structures constructed of brick at the time of its construction.

Tags:   Bruges Brugge doorway building ornamentation Belgium brick masonry

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