Bruges is the historic capital of West Flanders, Flanders being one of the three regions of Belgium. Bruges is one of Belgium's chief tourist attractions. The historic city centre is a prominent World Heritage Site of UNESCO since 2000. Along with a few other canal-based northern cities, such as Amsterdam, it is sometimes referred to as "The Venice of the North". It has some wonderful historic and unique European accommodations, vacation rentals, condo rentals and apartment rentals.
Relatively cosmopolitan and bourgeois given its compact size, is one of the best preserved pre-motorised cities in Europe and offers the kind of charms rarely available elsewhere. Besides architecture, sites to see include several museums. Don’t miss the Groeninge Museum with six centuries of paintings from different styles. The Memling museum is also not to be missed, with the wooden Shrine of St. Ursula. The only work of art by Michelangelo to leave Italy during his lifetime can be seen in the Church of our Lady. The Chapel of the Holy Blood also displays an ampul reputed to contain the blood of Christ.
Stepping out of your town centre accommodation, vacation rental or apartment rental sampling the chocolates and waffles, shopping for craft work including Bruges famous lace, visiting art galleries, climbing the belfry (all 366 steps to the top of the 83-metre high tower) or trying several of the more than 350 available Belgian beers.
For the romantic at heart do not miss the opportunity to take a horse drawn cart from Grote Markt. Carriages can be hired for a romantic 30 minute trip around the old city of Bruge. Continue the romance and book accommodations, apartment rentals or vacation rentals with a view over the historic town centre. It's essential to take a ride on one of the tour boats around the canals. For only a few Euros, the multilingual guides provide a potted history of the city in just a few minutes it's the best introduction to Bruges. A boat tour will show you places which are otherwise unreachable, as not every canal runs next to a street.
This is a very popular European tourist town and lodging can get full over weekends so be sure to plan ahead when you book your accommodation, vacation rental or apartment rental.