Bruges: The Most Beautiful Medieval Fairy Tale in Modern Times

Today we are leaving London for Bruges and taking the train and going 1^st class, imagine. Well, in reality, the difference between First Class and senior rates was not that different, so we chose to try out 1^st class.

We gathered up our luggage and headed to the train station, just 5 minutes across the street. We had purchased a Euro Pass for 5 days, which allowed us 5 travel days any time within 1 month of our start date. You can spread them out or use them back to back.    We have travelled some, so we plan on lineups and other glitches; however, we blew it.

Arriving at the station, we looked for the appropriate line for tickets. A lot of people were also heading in the same direction, so the lineup was long. Partway along, we were asked for our passports. That’s when panic struck, one of our bags was missing.

Was it stolen? Did we misplace it?  We were sure we had it, but after holding up the lineup, we concluded that we had left it at the hotel.  My husband left the line and ran to the hotel, probably praying as I was that the bag was there. 

I continued along the line holding our place, but as I approached the end of the line, I stepped to the side and waited. 

That quick dash to the hotel across the street seemed to last a lot longer than 5 minutes.

A quick look at my husband and I knew he had found the missing item.  Hallelujah!

Tickets in hand, we just had to wait for the train.  The station was full of everyone wanting to get on their way.  We got lucky that Robin had checked with a staff person, who told us which access point to use for our train. 

The next hoop to handle was finding the correct car.  We were told that the car was at the front and had a yellow line marked on the side.  These trains may have an average of 60 cars, and guess where First Class is … yes, that’s right, at the front.

So we took off running to ensure we got on the train on time.  A real adrenaline rush, but we made it. There was a gentleman there to help us with our bags, guided us to our very comfortable seats. He served lunch, which is included with the ticket.

I chose a very much appreciated glass of wine with a lovely Quinoa salad and a tasty dessert.  We asked the server if he would tell us when we were in the Chunnel. His response was “We are in it.” The train’s speed at top speed of up to 300 km/h.

The countryside just sped by, making our trip approx… 3 hours and 10 minutes.  Just as an example, flying is estimated to a 5 hours and 10 minutes. 

We are here, and thanks to a keen Uber driver, we were able to be dropped off at our hotel’s doorstep.

We are too early to check in, but we can leave our suitcases in their care and go roaming, the best part.

The City is the epitome of a medieval town. It was first mentioned in the 9th Century with some records dating back to 840 and 892. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.  

Located in the Flemish region of Belgium, and is situated a few kilometres inland from the North Sea. It was a large trading port during the medieval days, with its canals which crisscross the city, making the delivery of goods easy from the ships. 

Our morning exploring took us past some amazing medieval architecture. No matter which street we wandered on, our cameras were always in use. 

In search of a little bit about the city, I wondered why it had not been damaged during the WW2. The story goes that the German Commander, Immo Hopman, refused to carry out the orders to destroy the city. There are so many amazing buildings and architectural details to enjoy, I had a hard time limiting myself to just a few in this article.

The Basilica of the Holy Blood, built in the 12th century, is amazing inside and out. The stained glass, the ornate décor and the design itself, which includes a double-spire chapel and most importantly of all, it is famous for being the site that safeguards the phial believed to be a cloth stained with Jesus’ blood. Each year, they have a Procession of the Holy Blood on Ascension Day, a Thursday, in the historic city centre. We bought front row seats for this event.

Roman Soldiers joining the Bruges Parade known as the Procession of the Holy Blood

Just to give you a sense of the importance the participants in the parade felt, I want to share a short story from the waitress in an outdoor cafe who shared with us.

“Were you here for the Procession?”  “Yes, we were.” “Did you see me?”

We had to admit we did not see her, but she quickly pulled out her cell phone and showed us a picture of herself and two family members dressed as Egyptians. “Aw, yes, we remember seeing you.”  The young lady just beamed.

The Rozenhoedkaai is the most iconic spot for taking photographs in Bruges.  It can be translated as Rosary Quay and is indeed the most photogenic spot to take a photo of a canal in Bruges.

From the canal you see the buildings from a different perspective and I noticed that Dovecotes were built into the peaks of building.   Dovecotes are large bird houses. Why, they were used as a source of food (meat and eggs) and I gather fertilizer.  Additionally, they kept down the insects.

Pigeons were also kept by individuals as a reliable fast method of communication during the World Wars.

 I noticed that many had garage like doors for their boat to be stored along the canal.

Along another cannel we walked to the Lake of Love (Minnewater) interestingly it turned out to be a large park with a variety of paths set in a treed forest area in the Minewaterpark.

The park has a story attached to it, a tragic story. The story goes that a maiden named Mina and a commoner maned Stroberg were in love. Her father disapproved and arranged a marriage with a wealthy man.   Mina fled and died by the lake, where Stromberg buried her.  

It’s believed that couples who cross the Minnewater Bridge together will find eternal love.  

Historically, Minnewater was a dock for goods and supplies. Your choice as to which version you wish to believe is up to you. 

View across Minnewater also known as Lovers Lake

Restaurants on the Main Square of Bruges.  From any of these restaurants you get an incredible view of Bruges

Bruges is located in the County of Flanders, which has a rich history and a very emotional history for many.  During the First World War, the area was a major battlefield.  It is hard not to be emotionally impacted when you think of the battles fought here.

While gathering information about the area, I came across the University of Kansas Medical Centre, which explained why the Poppies grow on Flanders Fields:

The artillery shells that churned up the soil and maimed and killed soldiers brought not only Clostridia, the deadly bacteria, to the surface, but also encouraged the proliferation and growth of the dormant poppy seeds that later, in their beauty, bloomed in profusion on the barren, scarred land, even in the cemeteries. This red poppy (Papaver rhoeas) has become the acknowledged symbol to remember and honour the dead and members of the armed forces throughout the English-speaking world.

Next stop for us … A quick Port Call to Rotterdam.