When ucityguides.com guides trawled the world for the top ten most beautiful cities, Venice topped the list – Rome, Florence and Lisbon all appeared too but in tenth place came Bruges. They called the Flemish gem “a small city, in a small country, hardly a metropolis, but huge on beauty”. It scored points for its preservation of mediaeval architecture, the romance of its cobbled streets (no high-heels, please) and its crisscross canals which make it “one of the most magical sites to be experienced in the world”.
High praise indeed. So if you’re kicking your heels this weekend, here are few things to do in this magical site.
Zomerwandeling
Say a final farewell to the summer as this popular guided outdoor excursion comes to the end of its run. It starts and ends at the Tourist office on ‘t Zand and your guide will introduce various aspects of the town. It last two hours and is available in Dutch, French and English. Only on Saturday and Sunday, check the website for more info.
visitbruges.be/event/zomerwandeling#
Snapshot 7
Follow up your fresh air walk by heading indoors to the Folklore Museum for this ongoing photographic exhibition which celebrates “events, artisanal skills, unique traditions and other manifestations of Bruges’ cultural heritage”.
Balstraat 43, 8000 Brugge
www.museabrugge.be
Free harp concert
What better music to go with the town’s a rich architectural history than the harp. These concerts are free and last around 35 minutes. Luc Vanlaere plays his own compositions but it’s not all about nostalgia – he throws in some world music to bring it all up to date.
www.harpmuziek.be
Razor Reel Fantastic Film Festival
If your tastes are rather more outlandish, this annual film festival may just be your cup of tea. With 40 films on offer, the programmed is varied and usually of a very high quality.
Cinema Liberty, Kuipersstraat 23, 8000 Brugge
www.rrfff.be
‘t Klein Venetië
Having gorged yourself on culture, put your feet up in one of Bruges’ many excellent cafés. Venice may have beaten Bruges to the number one slot but there is nowhere quite like this in Veneto’s Floating City. Enjoy a cool glass of Brugse Zot from De Halve Maan brewery with a wonderful view of Rozenhoedkaai.
Braambergstraat 1, 8000 Brugge
Photo canal: elya
Kruispoort: Wolfgang Staudt
