In Belgium they speak French and Flemish, so they have a language sharing arrangement where both languages are typically on every sign, in the train stations, etc.
That is why you may have heard Bruges be referred to one of two ways, Bruges (French/English) or Brugge (Flemish/Dutch).
Regardless, we went to Bruges on one of Brev’s off days and it became our favorite city that we visited in Belgium so far!
Bruges is in Northwest Belgium and is the capital of West Flanders, one of Belgium’s ten different provinces.
Bruges is also a UNESCO World Heritage City due to its rich history and beautiful architecture. It is one of the most picturesque destinations in Belgium with its many canals, cobblestone streets and medieval buildings.
Many of the buildings are still in their original Brick Gothic form since Bruges largely stayed out of any conflicts that would cause destruction.
We spent our day tasting some of the local chocolates, walking around sightseeing and taking a boat tour through the canals. The boat tour was by far our favorite part of the day.
Here is a quick list of things to see while in Bruges:
- The Belfry of Bruges: A medieval bell tower in the center of the city. You can climb the 366 steps to the top for panoramic views of the city.
- Church of Our Lady: The tallest structure in the city and third tallest brickwork tower in the world. In it’s museum you can see Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child (1504).
- Old St John’s Hospital: A medieval hospital founded in the mid 12th century that didn’t close until 1977.
The Jo Show 