Beautiful Bruges

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Brugge

Not even Winter’s icy grip could shield the fairy-tale city of Bruges from waves of tourists.  Long known in Europe as the most intact and well-preserved medieval town, its popularity skyrocketed after the film In Bruges was released.  So, when I found myself spending a weekend in Brussels, I naturally drifted towards Bruges like a moth to a flame.

70 minutes from central Brussels via train, Bruges is probably the most common day trip from the EU capitol.  The train drops its passengers off outside of Bruges’ outer canal ring.  From the station, visitors can spot the town’s distinctive clock tower based in its medieval center.  Walking towards the tower, I crossed through cobblestones, softly rounded by centuries of wear.  The streets were small, quaint and full of beautiful shops selling the Belgian favorites such as chocolate, lace and beer.

Bruges Town Square - a UNESCO World Heritage Site

After 15 minutes of navigating through picturesque winding roads, I reached Bruges’ Markt – meaning market in Dutch, it’s more often translated as town square in English. Standing in the middle of this perfectly preserved medieval market square and UNESCO World Heritage Site was a pretty powerful experience. Bruges was at one point in its history considered to be the commercial capitol of the world, making this the middle age equivalent of Wall Street.

As the temperature dropped and the rain began to fall, the tourists began to scatter and the clip-clop of horses hooves around the square became more evident. In some respects, seeing Bruges covered in the dreary  grey of Winter provided a more authentic experience for me.  While the visitor numbers were still healthy, there was enough room to breathe and space to explore.  I could smell the horses as they pulled their carriages around the square, hear the distinctive Germanic tones some of the residents and for I second I caught a glimpse of life here 500 or 600 years ago.

Bruges Stathuis

Rounding the corner from the main square, we ran into Bruges’ old town hall, called “Stadhuis” in Dutch (city house).  Like the rest of the town, it was remarkably well preserved.  A modest 2 euros gained us entrance into the main meeting room and adjacent museum.  The Stadhuis’ main room was an impressive example of Bruges’ former wealth and prominence as a commercial hub.  It was covered floor to ceiling with ornate decorations and paintings, all helping to tell of tale of the most powerful city in Belgium.

Through with our history lesson, we decided to spend the rest of our time in town freely exploring its nooks and crannies.  We followed the path of one of its many canals, which took us through idyllic residential districts and gorgeous shophouses.  The sweet tooth in me couldn’t help but stop and gawk at each chocolate or candy store we passed.  After finally giving in and indulging in some of Belgium’s specialties – chocolate, waffles, fries, and beer – I must admit that this little country ranks very highly on my best-food list.

Belgian Sweets and Chocolates

As the day wound down and the cold air crept in, we made out way past the canal along Bruges’ medieval border towards the train station.  We made it back into Brussels for dinner with a camera loaded with pictures and my head full of memories.  Easily one of the best day trip towns I’ve ever visited, it is every bit the fairy-tale village it claims to be.

In Pictures: Grote Markt (Grand Place) in Brussels, Belgium

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Touted as one of the most beautiful squares in Europe, the Grote Markt (Grand Place) in Belgium’s capitol city of Brussels lived up to its expectations.  Even on a cold, wintery and grey day, I was blown away at the beauty and detail of the architecture in this remarkable square.

Grote Markt at Dusk

For those visiting Brussels, I would suggest visiting the square both during the day and night. I happened to pass by during dusk and the lights pouring out from the restaurant windows illuminated the cobbled streets to create a beautiful setting.

Grote Mark

The town hall (Stadhuis) is located on the righthand side of the above photograph and is undoubtedly the scene-stealer in the square.  The origins of this gothic masterpiece date back to the 1400s and its 96-meter tower can be seen from various points throughout Brussels.

Grote Markt

Grote Markt Guild Houses

Stately and ornate row homes are the hallmark of Dutch architecture, and the Grote Markt holds perhaps some of the finest examples of this unique and distinct style.  Built to show off the wealth of this former mercantile powerhouse during the 1500s and 1600s, guild houses were constructed around the square to represents the different trades of Brussels.  Though today they mainly house restaurants, their grandeur remains.

There are so many adjectives that could be used to describe this tiny little slice of Belgium.  It’s a photographer’s wonderland, an architect lover’s fantasy and a history buff’s dream.  Clouded now by its responsibilities as the new capital of a united, yet struggling European Union, it is amazing to step back in time with the Grote Markt and truly appreciate the remarkable history of this humble city squeezed between Germany and France.

Day Trip: Windsor Castle

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Windsor Castle

Details
Getting There: Trains leave approx. every half hour from Paddington Station in London to Windsor & Eton Central Station. Round-trip fare is approx. 9GBP. Plan your journey here.
Admission Fee: £17 when the State Apartments are open. £9 when they are closed.
Official Website: http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/default.asp?action=article&ID=34

Windsor Castle is located just 30 minutes from central London and offers visitors an excellent day or even half-day break from the hustle and bustle of the big city.  It is the oldest and largest active castle in the world and the Queen still spends many of her private weekends at this imposing compound composed of Gothic architecture and fairy-tale style turrets.

Unfortunately, because the Queen does occasionally spend her time at Windsor, it’s not always fully open to the public.  Before you plan your visit it’s best to check the official website to ensure that the castle will be open for visitors on the day you wish to arrive.

Windsor is conveniently located a few steps away from the Windsor and Eton Central train station and there are signs located throughout the town which will lead you towards the entrance to the grounds.  The castle opens at 9:45am and it’s best to arrive as early as possible.  Even in the winter, Windsor gets crowded during the day.

Windsor's distinct Round Tower

The famous “Changing of the Guard” takes place within the grounds of Windsor Castle every other day at 11am, except on Sundays and the ceremony lasts 20 minutes -a very lenghthy 20 minutes when it’s cold outside. My suggestion would be to visit on a day when the State Apartments are open and the changing of the guard is being performed. This will ensure that you’re getting the most Windsor for your buck . . . or pound. If you’re lucky, St. George’s Chapel will also be open.  Housing the remains of 10 members of the royal family, this gothic-style chapel stands out from the rest of the compound with its creamy-coloured stones and distinctive arched windows.

Aside from the State Rooms and chapel, Windsor also contains Queen Mary’s Dollhouse – an incredibly ornate and fully functional dollhouse complete with electricity and running water.  Exploring the passageways of the public part of the castle, military history lovers will delight in the various collections of weapons grouped by regions such as India and Japan.  Other highlights include a collections of fine china and as well as a rotating list of special exhibits.  Like most royal palaces, the grounds themselves are a spectacle unto themselves.  At Windsor, however, the neatly manicured “backyard” is not open to tourists but it can be viewed from the windows of the State Apartments.

Changing of the Guard

Windsor Interior

At £17, Windsor is by no means the cheapest palace or castle in Europe. However, keeping in mind that it has been an active royal residence for nearly 1000 years and that it is more of a compound rather than a singular castle, the admission fee is justified.  Windsor is easily one of the best preserved castles I’ve visited.  Because of its lengthy history, it offers visitors a chance to step into the dragon-slaying middle-ages all the way through to the Gothic, Georgian, and Victorian ages within a few hours. Add that to the fact that it’s such a short journey from London and it makes for the perfect day out.