« An interesting machine | Main | Bruge lace »
February 22, 2005
Venice of the North
The canals in Bruge are beautifully maintained, and no private boats are allowed on them any longer. Instead, the city licences tour boats which do a wonderful trip around the old parts of the city with a good historic commentary in three or four languages!
A view looking North up the principle canal towards the Cathedral
The Old City still sits within its walls and the circular canal which protects them. Access to the old city is permitted for vehicles but it is difficult and restricted to a few points where bridges cross into the original gates. The streets are narrow and one way systems abound. Bicycles have almost free reign, and pedestrians mix with the traffic, yet there are few accidents and patience is definitely a virtue. The wise soon abandon their cars in one of the many carparks and walk. The city is quite compact and easily walkable - and the canal boats also provide an alternative way to get around as do the horse drawn carriages.
This city is a lace-making centre (called "Kant" in Flemish) and is strongly Roman Catholic. The great cathedral dates back to Roman times with Roman graves and decorations under the present floor. Some of these have been excavated and can be viewed through glass panels set in the floor.
Another place of interest is the "Volks Museum" set in an old brewery and public inn called "De Zwarte Kat", which was a gathering place for artists in the early 20th Century. Examples of their work are still on display.
Posted by The Gray Monk at February 22, 2005 07:58 AM