Friday 10 October 2008

Museums in Bruges


City of museums



Apart from its wonderful medieval architecture, Bruges is also well known for its museums that can be find, without exaggerating, around every corner. The greatest quality of Bruges’ museums is the huge diversity, ranging from the Flemish Primitives to contemporary art, from the classic ‘fine arts’ to archeological excavations, furniture, silverware, folklore, etc. Various ‘Flemish Primitives’ Masters, such as Hans Memling and Jan van Eyck lived and worked most of their life in Bruges. Also, the only work of art made by Michelangelo to have left Italy during his lifetime, a marble statue of Our Lady, can be admired in the Church of Our Lady. There's also the unforgettable Groeningemuseum, with 600 years of different style paintings, the wonderful Memling Museum, the intriguing Gruuthusemuseum, the Museum of Folklore, the Guido Gezelle Museum, St. John's House, the Old St. John's Hospital (an absolute must-see), the Basilica of the Holy Blood (displays an ampul supposedly containing Christ's blood), the Diamond Museum, etc.
All hotels in Brugge are only a stone's throw away from the museums in the city centre.


City of food & beverages



If you've had enough off all the buildings and culture, it's time to sit down and relax. Bruges ranks very high when it comes to excellent restaurants, lunch adresses, coffee bars, pubs or clubs. Fill your stomach with typical Belgian chocolate and waffles, or the countless varieties of famous Belgian beers, or let yourself go gastronomically in one of the many restaurants or hotels in Bruges. A lot of the restaurants in Bruges and the romantic hotels in Bruges are a must-do for everyone who likes to look on the bright side of life.



A couple examples of very good (and affordable) restaurants in the city centre are: Restaurant Aneth and Restaurant Arthies or perhaps you can take a look around on this website about restaurants in Bruges.