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Markt -

Get your bearings in Bruges by heading for the Markt, the old market square that serves as the town's ancient heart. This is where to enjoy a coffee before exploring the scenic "Venice of the North."

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Belfry -

Belgium's most famous belfry, the Belfort van Brugge, landmarks Bruges' historic core. Its distinctive octagonal tower is 83 m (272 ft) tall and you'll need to climb 366 narrow steps to admire the fabulous views at the top.

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Church of Our Lady -

Dominating the Bruges skyline, however, is the imposing 112-m (367-ft)-high spire of the Church of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk), the tallest in Belgium.

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Virgin and Child -

Among the church's priceless treasures is Michelangelo's 1504 serene white marble sculpture 'Virgin and Child.' While Michelangelo was alive, the Madonna was the only sculpture to be taken out of Italy.

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Stadhuis -

Bruges' town hall, or stadhuis, is one of the oldest in Belgium. Completed in 1420, the building is noted for its beautiful and fanciful Gothic facade topped with witches-hat turrets.

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Gothic Hall -

The interior of the stadhuis is equally resplendent. The magnificent Gothic Hall (Gotische Zaal) dazzles with its timber vaulting ceiling embellished with medieval carvings. Wall murals by Albrecht De Vriendt (1843–1900) depicting the town's history add delightful perspective.

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Groeningemuseum -

Bruges' best collection of art is held at the excellent Groeningemuseum. Its display of Flemish Primitive and Renaissance works includes Jan Van Eyck's lustrous masterpiece 'Madonna with Canon Van der Paele' (1436).

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Basilica of the Holy Blood -

A vial supposedly containing a few drops of Christ's blood brought back to Belgium after the 12th-century Crusades is kept at the suitably named Basilica of the Holy Blood (Basiliek van het Heilig Bloed).

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Chapel -

The colorfully adorned chapel in the Basilica of the Holy Blood is where the relic is hidden. The venerable artifact can be viewed daily, at 2 pm, when it's taken out from behind a silver tabernacle.

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Procession of the Holy Blood -

Every year, Bruges hosts the Procession of the Holy Blood. The festival, which takes place each Ascension Day, marks the occasion when the precious vial of sacred blood, mounted on a jewel-encrusted reliquary, is carried through the town on the shoulders of clergymen.

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Dijver mansions -

The stunning and much-photographed ensemble of 15th-century mansion houses overlooking the Dijver Canal includes the Gruuthusemuseum and the Brangwyn Museum.

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Gruuthusemuseum -

Lovers of antique and applied art should certainly browse the Gruuthusemuseum, which occupies an impressive 22 rooms of the medieval Gruuthuse, the house of the Flemish courtier Louis de Gruuthuse (1427–1492), who later became Earl of Winchester, a title bestowed upon him by King Edward IV of England in 1472.

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Saint John's Hospital -

The restored Saint John's Hospital (Sint-Jansspitaal) was founded in the 12th century and is the oldest building in Bruges. It now serves as a museum and home to several masterpieces of 15th-century art.

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Memling Museum -

Known as the Memling, the museum inside Saint John's Hospital holds an exceptional artifact, the reliquary of St. Ursula (1498). Finished in gilded oak that resembles a miniature church, the piece is awash with scenes from the life of St. Ursula.

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Bruges bridges -

Over 50 bridges cross the canals of Bruges, some of them dating back to the 14th century. The Meebrug is especially alluring. Built in 1390, the views from this ancient overpass are achingly romantic.

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Dijver Canal -

The Dijver is one of Bruges' prettiest canals, and one of the most historic. The canal is part of the Reie river, along whose banks the city gradually developed in the 13th century.

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St. Savior's Cathedral -

The exterior of Bruges' 13th-century St. Savior's Cathedral (St-Salvatorskathedraal) is distinguished by its fortress-like 99-m (324-ft)-high stacked tower.

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Choir stalls -

The cathedral's cavernous interior features some treasures of note, including the 15th-century choir stalls (pictured) embellished with the coats of arms of Knights of the Golden Fleece.

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Royal City Theatre -

Inaugurated in 1869, the Royal City Theatre (Koninklijke Stadsschouwburg) is one of the best-preserved music venues in Europe. Opera, theater and dance, and classical music concerts take place in gilded surroundings.

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St. Jacob's Church -

While not much to look at from the outside, St. Jacob's Church (Sint-Jacobskerk) is nonetheless worth exploring for its richly ornamented interior and the fine collection of funerary art donated over the years by wealthy locals.

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Béguinage -

A béguinage was an autonomous and secular community of emancipated lay-women who led a pious and celibate life. In Bruges, you can admire a collection of well-preserved 17th-century homes that once housed these "béguines."

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Begijnhof Museum -

One of the former béguine houses has been turned into the Begijnhof museum, a tour of which affords a fascinating glimpse into life in the béguinage. Pictured is the kitchen.

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Law Courts -

The former Law Courts, built between 1722 and 1727 on the site of the former Liberty of Bruges (Paleis van het Brugse Vrije), can be visited. The standout attraction is the remarkable 16th-century chimney piece (pictured), carved in oak and set in black marble. It's found in the  former alderman's chamber.

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Jeruzalemkerk -

This 1429 church, one of Bruges' oldest, is supposedly modeled on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The interior is noted for the copy of Christ's tomb in the rear mini-chapel. The most obvious architectural feature, however, is the church tower, which at first glance resembles a minaret.

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Concertgebouw -

Bruges is blessed with several outstanding cultural centers including the contemporary Concertgebouw, a concert venue housing two large music halls that serve as a stage for an eclectic mix of musical and theatrical productions.

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Bruges beer -

Belgium is justly famous for its brews, and you'll appreciate the beer experience in Bruges. The city has its own beer museum, and there's even a beer pipeline running beneath the ancient cobbled streets connecting a city center brewery with an out-of-town bottling plant. There are many dozens of beers to choose from (several are named after the city), but why not try a drop of rich, golden Straffe Hendrik?

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Bruges chocolate -

Belgium is one of the most important manufacturers of chocolate in Europe. Some of the country's finest chocolatiers are based in Bruges, and you can spend hours seeking out and sampling tasty praline treats on specially designed walking tours.

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Moules-frites -

The city's traditional comfort food, moules-frites is mussels cooked in onion and celery and paired with French fries. Incidentally, the French fry is a Belgian culinary invention. Common lore suggests that the fry was born in Namur, Belgium, in the winter of 1680 when the Meuse river froze and residents were unable to prepare their favorite dish, fried fish. Instead, they fried thinly cut potatoes.

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Waffles -

Delicious and fragrant waffles are the most famous Belgian culinary trademark. There are two versions of this national dessert, the Liege waffle and the Brussels waffle. The distinction is in the consistency of the batter. Enjoyed across Belgium, the waffle is also a familiar American sweet treat: it made its first US appearance at the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle.

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Bruges by boat -

The next best thing to browsing Bruges on foot is to take a sightseeing cruise along its many canals.

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Excursion option -

Out of Bruges, around 10 km (6 mi) south, is the mid-19th-century Loppem Castle, a handsome red brick castle that features a richly decorated and furnished interior. Surrounded by a small lake, the castle is known for its antique hedge maze, which is definitely worth getting lost in.

Sources: (Visit Bruges) (The Guardian) (National Geographic) (BBC) (HuffPost) 

See also: Venice and beyond: Cities with canals for roads

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