After several days in Paris we were looking to experience something different in Belgium. We knew we would be there for just one day (really just eight hours) so we would have to get an immediate feel for the place. After leaving Lille we began to notice something different as soon as we crossed the border. All the signage was in Flemish and as people got on the train at various stops we heard more and more Flemish. I think we were a little surprised by that - I had expected that people would be speaking French.
From the train station to the center was a long walk through a beautiful park. It was obvious from the numbers of bikes parked outside the train station that Brugges is a biking city. There were bike paths through the park with lots of people using them.
At the center we were again surprised. A huge open square lined with cafes dominates the city center. Narrow cobblestone streets lead off the square. Everywhere are beautifully preserved buildings from Brugges' glory days as the leading wool trading center in Europe.
We took a minibus tour of the city to get a feel for the history. We learned about native son Jan Van Eyck, the Calvinistic period, the French Revolutionary period when the main cathedral was destroyed, and the rise in sea level that ended Brugges' development as a rival to London and Paris. We also saw where the first stock exchange and banking system came into being.
We were very glad we took the time to stray from our itinerary to explore this beautiful city.
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