Not far from Brussels is the city of Brugge. Also called as Bruges, it is the capital and largest city in the West Flanders. The city center, however, is small that it can be explored on foot.
I went to Brussels Midi (Bruxelles Zuid) Train Station and bought the “Go Pass” ticket to Brugge. The ticket is valid for travellers aged below 26 and costs €12 two-way. There are also weekend tickets for €15 for those who are 26 and above.
After one hour, we arrived in Brugge Station. From here, the city town is just a few-minute walk (or an hour if you want to explore whatever’s on the way like I did). Just in front of the station is a lovely place called the Minnewaterpark. With a canal lined by trees, it is ideal for leisure walks. Walking further, you’ll find the Minnewater or Lake of Love. According to the legend, you will experience eternal love if you walk on the bridge over the lake together with your partner. I was alone and I just couldn't help but fall in love with the lovely place.
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| Minnewaterpark |
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| The bridge over the Lake of Love |
Even without a map, Brugge is easy to explore. I really love canals so I just followed them and ended up in this place. This is where the roads start to be filled with shops and other tourists.
From this place, you can easily spot a towering cathedral – the Sint-Salvatorskathedraal. Few more minutes of walking took me to the center of the city center – the Markt. It is marked by the Belfry. It can be climbed for €8 but be prepared to wait in line for at least an hour and climb more than 380 steps.
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| Markt |
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| View of Brugge from the Belfry |
Adjacent to the Markt is the Burg Square where the city hall is located. I especially wanted to go to this place it was the meeting place for the bike tour that I signed up to. Read the rest of the story here.
