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Bruges |
While it's easy to pass the time simply looking around at the beautiful buildings, visitors to Bruges can learn more about the city's long history through the many fascinating museums dedicated to everything from chocolate and frites (chips or french fries) to diamonds, art and folklore and lace.
Bruges is a foodie's dream destination, especially for chocolate lovers. It's hard to go more than a few metres without stumbling on a window display of dainty confections, and there are several factories and even a museum dedicated to chocolate-making in Bruges. The restaurants in the city are just as mouth-watering, ranging from Michelin-starred establishments to humble waffle houses.
Known for its notoriously less-than-idyllic weather, Bruges' summers are colder than most cities in Europe and its winters are chilly and wet. This doesn't stop the locals from enjoying themselves however, as most of the city's biggest events take place in the winter, including chocolate and music festivals, ice sculpture competitions and Christmas markets.
Attractions
Bruges Diamond Museum
Bruges has a long history of diamond polishing, going back to 1450 when local goldsmith Lodewijk van Berquem invented the modern technique of using diamond powder on a rotating disk. The Bruges Diamond Museum (Diamantmuseum Brugge) has a variety of exhibits on this craft, as well as mining and setting diamonds. The museum also offers live polishing demonstrations each day, and often hosts temporary exhibitions with famous stones and jewellery. The gift shop stocks rough and synthetic diamonds, as well as more reasonably-priced souvenirs.Address: Oude Gentweg; Website: www.diamondmuseum.be; Telephone: 050 34 20 56; Opening time: Daily 10:30am-5:30pm. Diamond-polishing demonstration daily 12:15pm.; Admission: €7 adults, €5 children. Other concessions available.
Choco-Story Museum
Chocolate lovers can't take a holiday to Bruges without stopping at the Choco-Story Museum, which details the history of chocolate dating back to the Mayans in 250 BC, and also demonstrates how the raw ingredients of cocoa are turned into the sweet treats everyone loves. Of course each tour includes a tasting session, and plenty of time in the gift shop. It's tempting to buy right then and there, but keep in mind that Bruges has more than 40 chocolate shops throughout the city!Address: Wijnzakstraat 2, Sint-Jansplein; Post code: 8000; E-mail: info@choco-story.be; Website: www.choco-story.be; Telephone: 050 61 22 37; Opening time: Daily 10am-5pm. Closed 24, 25 and 31 December; and 1 and 9-20 January.; Admission: €7 adults, €4 children 6-11. Other concessions available.
Groeninge Museum
Considered one of Bruges' best museums, the Groeninge Museum houses a large collection of fine art going back to the 15th century, including works by famous Flemish painters Jan van Eyck, Hieronymus Bosch, Rogier van der Weyden and Hans Memling. Thought some of the works are from recent years, the museum's collections focuses exclusively on works with classical techniques, and has some beautiful pieces.Address: Dijver 12; Website: www.brugge.be; Telephone: 050 44 87 11; Opening time: Tuesday to Sunday 9:30am-5pm.; Admission: €8; concessions available.