How would a Venetian experience Venice? In this travelogue Rebecca Chandy explores the sights and sounds of Bruges, the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in Belgium, located in the northwest corner of Belgium. 

From Alleppey, The Venice of the East, I travelled 11,239 km to reach Bruges, The Venice of the North. After a 3 hour drive from Paris, I reached Bruges (By the way it is pronounced as Broosh) on a Monday afternoon. Bruges is a UNESCO world heritage site and the entire city looks like a giant set for a movie based in medieval period. Like its namesake Venice, Bruges is also famous for its canals. There are canals everywhere you look and it gives you the feeling that the city is floating.

A mini cruise around the city through some of Bruges famed rectangular wooden box houses; Bruges’ renowned Municipal Lace Museum also on the main canal and the quaint bridges with the swans and the ducks swimming through the canals … all of it made the entire ride an experience endearingly romantic. Near to the boat landing area is the Diamond Museum. Sadly all the museums are closed on Mondays, so do have that in consideration when planning your trip to Bruges. Diamond shops are nearby and how I wish I could afford one of the rocks. Sigh!

The 13th century Belfort en Hallen (belltower of the market) is a symbol of Bruges and is the tallest belfry in Belgium. It has an impressive clock mechanism which has 47 bells, each with different sounds and functions. Each one of those 366 steps to reach its top is worth the trouble for the panoramic view atop. The view of the entire canal network through the city is nothing but picture perfect.

All the work out proved to be quite the appetizer that I ran into a chocolate shop nearby. Waiting for me there was one of the tastiest foods in the world – pain au chocolat. It looks like our puffs with the filling made of chocolate. If I say pain au chocolat is the pseudonym for Manna from heaven, it won’t be an exaggeration. I would rather call it the manna from the Venice of the north. Imagine my disappointment when the shop keeper told me that I just missed the famed Bruges Chocolate Festival which happens in summer every year. But like they say there is always a next time.

I spent the rest of the evening strolling through the cobbled streets, peering into souvenir and lace shops, taking pit stops every now and then to munch my manna. When it was time for dinner, I was not really hungry but couldn’t resist the charm of the simple restaurants at the market square. It was a laid back three course dinner for a full two and half hours.

I took a short walking trip to the hotel. Bruges is a walker’s paradise and a walk across the city won’t take more than half an hour. The roads are filled with people riding on the carriages and by the time I reached the hotel I have decided to ride on one of those, first thing in the morning.

Bruges has an array of hotels to choose from. The boutique hotel I stayed was simple and artistically designed. But it had no restaurant attached. When you plan a trip it is safe to opt for a bed and breakfast in Bruges.

I woke up in the morning to the sound of the cathedral bells ringing out. The streets of Bruges are active even in the morning with the pedestrians moving to and fro. I checked out of the hotel and found a restaurant at Burg Square that serves authentic Belgian breakfast. There I had the most delicious breakfast ever with mouthwatering waffles (do they called Belgian waffles just waffles?). Outside the restaurant was a horse and buggy waiting and I took a carriage ride through the town. It was like a fairy tale. My rat, err; horse man entertained me with tales from yester years until he dropped me off at Burg Square. Needless to say that I did enjoy being Cindrella for a short time
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Burg square houses the Basilica of the Holy Blood, named after its prize relic; a rock crystal vial containing coagulated blood of Christ which found its way to Belgium about 1,000 years ago. On Fridays it is brought for veneration and on Ascension Day the relic becomes the focus of the Procession of the Holy Blood, which is attended by thousands. The upper part of the church is elegant and splendor. The stained glass windows, gilt furnishings-including the remarkable pulpit in the shape of a celestial orb-and exquisitely painted panels are all feast for the eyes. In contrast is the downstairs which is simple and enchanting.

A visit to Bruges won’t be complete without a visit to Choco-Story, the chocolate museum. It tells the story of the transformation of cocoa into chocolate, and how Bruges became famous for Chocolates. I had lunch at a café near the museum and prepared to bid adieu to The Venice of the North. But the story of Bruges still goes on…

Waiting for me there was one of the tastiest foods in the world – pain au chocolat. I lookslike our puffs with the filling made of chocolate. If I sat pain au chocolat is the pseudonym for Manna from heaven, it won’t be an exaggeration.

Rebecca Chandy is a counselor and a food and travel enthusiast. She found her true calling in travelling a few years back and has been a vagabond ever since

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