Bruges is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It rightly deserves the name Venice of the north — canals, bridges, and old city houses make it a very romantic place to visit, and one that rewards slow exploration on foot.
Bruges came to prominence in the 14th century as the leading trading centre of the Low Countries. The city lost this position to Antwerp and later to Amsterdam, and the good thing about this economic decline is that the city was never redeveloped. You can find here a city that has remained practically unchanged since its heyday at the end of the Middle Ages.
The essential sights are the Belfort tower rising above the Markt, the adjacent Burg square with its Gothic town hall and the Basilica of the Holy Blood, and the Groeningemuseum for its unrivalled collection of Flemish Primitive painting. The Church of Our Lady contains a Michelangelo Madonna; the Begijnhof offers the city's quietest corner. Beyond the famous sights, the Sint-Anna quarter to the north has fewer tourists and more atmosphere. And after all that walking, the Halve Maan Brewery makes a fine last stop before dinner.