Bruges: City of Gates on the Double Moats

Bruges is commonly known as the Venice of the north, or the city of canals. However, I learned from a friend, who lives in Bruges that the city was actually a formerly walled city with double moats.

Even though the walls are no longer in existence, the moats still surround the city with homes and buildings sitting on the middle piece of land that separates the two moats. Back when the wall and the moats were a needed thing there were no buildings on that property.

Although the walls are now gone, their location is not. In their place is a winding path which surrounds the city within a greenbelt of park where you can find walkers, bike riders and joggers out enjoying the scenery.

Some of the gates which were in the original wall, are still intact. They are still in use although not as a means of shutting anyone out. They are where the various roads carry traffic into the city center from the outlying suburbs.

If you choose to take the path around the city to follow where the ancient city walls were it is best to ride a bike. As close as I can estimate it, the ride is about twenty-five miles and can take about three and one half hours to complete if you also stop at the various remaining gates.

You think, "Why would I want to stop at all of the gates? If I've seen one I've seen them all." Actually, not so. Every gate is uniquely one of a kind in shape, color, original function and name. There are four that remain from the original nine gates and they are still in use today.

We started our ride along the wall at the Cross Gate or Kruispoort. This is a large and impressive building. It looks a bit like a fairy tale castle with its two tall towers, arch adorned windows and niches.

You will also find the Blacksmiths' Gate or Ezelpoort which looks like it could be an old country home except that it has a tunnel going through the center. The Ghent Gate or Smendenpoort is round and yellow and was the port of entry for the Nazis when they invaded Bruges during World War 2. The fourth gate is the Donkey's Gate or the Gentpoort which has its own moat with swans swimming in the water.

Another structure over the moats is the Canada Bridge which is adorned by huge American Bison this was the entry point for the allies when they liberated Bruges from Nazi occupation. The Canadians were the liberators.

Even though the wall no longer surrounds the city, this city is still encompassed by its moats. The moats still give it a walled in feeling, more than most of the other Belgian cities that I've been in. Outside the moats, you will find the city's suburbs and small towns which aren't very far from Bruges.

There is one train station in Bruges which receives trains from both Brussels and Antwerp. You can take a bus or walk to your destination. Or if you are staying at a Bed and Breakfast, like the Ars Vivendi, they will pick you up at the train station and return you to the station when you need to leave.

This particular Bed and Breakfast is in the city center, near the Square Market. They provide a bicycle for your use, free of charge. There are also various options available for parking if you come by car.

Bruges is organized from the outside to the inside in layers, a bit like an onion. There are the outlying suburbs which surround the moats. The moats encircle the wall which was replaced by a path surrounded by a green space. The green space surrounds the rest of the city. The outer city surrounds the inner city and the city center. In the inner city you will find charming and winding streets populated with gift shops, chocolate shops, discount stores, department stores, jewelry shops and lace shops.

Most of the inner city is easily accessed by either going on foot or by bicycle. You can also choose to go by horse and buggy. From the outside going in you can either drive, take a bus, ride a bike or take a boat along one of the canals.

Like Brussels, Bruges has a Grand Place in the city center which is a large open plaza with impressive medieval buildings lining its sides. Nearby you will find the Burg square where you will find the Town Hall and the Basilica of the Holy Blood.

Not too far away, you will find a church by the name of Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk. This is the home of the only Michelangelo sculpture in Northern Europe which is the Madonna with Child. The original buyer for the commissioned piece decided to refuse it. Then Bruges offered to buy it and has been the proud owner ever since.

Bruges is also home to one of the oldest working monasteries in Flanders. The monastery or Beguinage contains forty white houses centered around a garden. It is operated by a group of Benedictine monks.

Some of Bruges' other unusual and interesting facts include the city being the home of the world's only freit or fry museum as well as a beer museum and a diamond museum. For further information about Bruges check out this link.

Sources:

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Belgium/Provincie_West_Vlaanderen/Brugge-357609/Off_the_Beaten_Path-Brugge-Tours_Town_Gates_Poorten-BR-1.html

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/2d9a/

http://www.arsvivendi.be/Engels/frameengels.htm

http://travel.wikia.com/wiki/Brugge

http://wikitravel.org/en/Brugge