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Bruges - A cultural treasure which tastes just great -
Looking for a short break destination full of fl avour? Julie Baxter hopped on the Eurostar to see if Bruges would fi t the bill
My trip to Bruges was to be short and sweet... and savoury… and, in fact, full of fl avours at every turn. Check out any image gallery of Bruges and you know in an instant it’s going to be pretty but what isn’t so obvious is that it is so much about the food. Bruges, in Flemish Belgium, has an historic, UNESCO-ranked centre and the canals around which it is built are reminiscent of Amsterdam or Venice. It is a gentle and compact city of cobbled streets and squares lined with beautifully- preserved, ornate historic houses so it's easy to see why it's popular for city breaks. Once one of the leading commercial ports, today Bruges primarily trades in tourism and by and large it does it well. Of course, you'll fi nd a few over-infl ated prices around the central square but once you wise up to that the city is easy to explore and offers a wealth of interesting sights and experiences, and an unexpectedly vast range of dining, from the Michelin-starred to frites shacks.
CULTURAL TREASURES I wandered the higgledy-piggledy streets and cruised the canals. The serene medieval style of this largely traffi c-free city soon set a cultured tone. My guidebook told of a prosperous 16th- century past, when merchants from over 30 countries traded here and the inhabitants were among the richest in Europe. Bruges was famous for its high-quality lace, still seen in the lace shops. I checked out the top treasures: the 13th century
belfry and the ornate Burg, The Church of Our Lady of Bruges – with the highest church tower in Europe and Saint-Salvator's Cathedral. There was plenty for arty types too with the Groeninge Museum able to lead you through six centuries of Flemish, Dutch and Belgian painting, as well as a fi ne collection of Flemish primitives, if you’re so inclined. As personally I’m not, it was a relief to discover there is also more to Bruges than its culture and old buildings.
BEERS, CHOCS & FRITES There’s beer for example! What’s not to like about a city that so loves the beers of its nation that it has a ‘beer wall’ – an extended glass cabinet – allegedly displaying every beer ever brewed in Belgium, currently over 400, and the glass you are
recommended to drink it from. The De Halve Maan Brewery, in the heart of the city, is an authentic historical brewery still brewing the city’s Brugse Zot beer, and the tour here is fun and informative. It ended at the brewery’s restaurant/bar for a free beer and the option to stay on for more, or to try the enticing array of local dishes. And there’s chocolate. Belgium chocolate is
renowned the world over and opportunities abound to explore the art of the chocolatier in its many chocolate shops and at Choco Story: The Chocolate Museum. Here I discovered everything I never knew I needed to know about chocolate, learnt a few tricks of the trade from a chocolatier, and sampled some of his wares for myself. And then there are waffl es. Belgian waffl es have
been a part of the local culture since the 19th century and use a special sugar, known as Pearl Sugar, which caramelises the whole waffl e. Served with a multitude of toppings these are certainly a ‘must’ on any trip to Bruges. But surely no visit to the city is complete without a visit to the Frite Museum – yes, a museum in honour of the humble chip. Who would have thought it, but the ubiquitous frites with mayonnaise, sold in squares, bars and restaurants across Belgian, have a noble and extensive history all their own. Here I learnt how to make the perfect chip (double frying is key), why they are called French fries (American soldiers in WWI mistook the Belgian accent), that there are over 4000 varieties of potato, and that they have both medicinal and beautifying properties. The museum is a little bit crazy but defi nitely makes you smile and when you discover its association with the Museum of Household Lighting (featuring 600 lights) you really know you are living the dream! Bruges is, in short, great fun and deadly serious
in equal measures. The whole city emanates an appreciation of the past and, for anyone who likes their food, a great lust for life now too. •
EUROSTAR FARES TO BRUSSELS GIVE FREE ONWARD TRAVEL TO ANY
BELGIAN STATION FOR PRICES FROM £34.50 EACH WAY IN NOVEMBER
eurostar.com
From top: Absorb the culture with a canal tour and then tuck into the fabulous local chocolate and try the numerous local beers
sellingtravel.co.uk
SAMPLE DEAL
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