Let me first explain that guidebooks and Web sites often use two different names for the same city. Like much of Belgium, Bruges has two names and two spellings. Bruges (pronounced broozh) is the English and French spelling and pronunciation. Brugge (pronounced broo-gha) is the Flemish spelling and pronunciation. Either is correct. Before it was either English or French, the name was a Viking word for "wharf" or "embankment."
Our northern European cruise had three choices for half-day shore excursions. The first was a trip to Ghent, the second was a guided walking tour of Bruges, and the third was Bruges "on your own." Some who had visited Bruges before either went to Ghent or used the ship's transfer into Bruges to tour alone. Many of the rest of us chose the guided tour so that we could see as much of the fairytale city as possible in the 4-5 hours we would be there. We left the ship at 12:15 pm for the 30-minute drive to Bruges. One word of caution.
The guided tour is a WALKING tour, as no tour buses are allowed in the narrow streets. Although we didn't have to climb any hills or many stairs, the streets are cobble stone and uneven. We walked for most of the time we were in the city, so I do not recommend this tour for those who have problems walking.
For those who do not wish to tour Bruges on foot, you might want to go into Bruges on your own or via a ship transfer bus. Once in Bruges, you can rent a horse-drawn carriage for sightseeing.
Bruges was all that I had expected, which was quite a lot. Full of interesting architecture and fascinating cobble stone streets, criss-crossed by peaceful canals, Bruges is a tourist's dream. Walking the streets is fun and could be quite time consuming if you stopped in each shop for exploring as I wished to do. Chocolate, lace and crafts are found everywhere, as are many restaurants and pubs. The city of 20,000 expects over two million visitors this year, making it seem almost like a Disney park in some places.
At first glance, it might seem you are in Disney-Belgium, but a closer look shows you that Bruges is not just another amusement park. The area was first inhabited almost 2000 years ago. Some of Bruges' buildings still date from the 9th century. Baldwin of the Iron Arm (I love these names) fortified the city with thick walls and fortifications to ward off the Viking marauders. At one time in the 14th century, Bruges had over 40,000 residents and rivaled London as a trading center.
Bruges grew wealthy during the Middle Ages on the cloth trade, and its harbor often saw over 100 ships anchored. Flemish weavers obtained the finest wool from the British Isles, and their tapestries were renowned. The city became an artisans' center, attracting all kinds of craftsmen. The Dukes of Burgundy and famous Flemish artists called Bruges home in the 15th century. However, during the 16th century, the harbor silted up, and Bruges was no longer a port city. Compounding the geographical changes were political upheavals and the death of a popular young queen due to a fall from a horse in 1482. After that, the city declined and was seen as mysterious and dead. Around 1850, Bruges was the poorest city in Belgium. However, in the early 20th century the new port of Zeebrugge was built nearby, which revitalized Bruges. Tourists discovered the monuments, museums, and the unspoiled historic cityscape and began spreading the word about this fascinating old city.
Let's walk around the city.
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