The central square of Bruges, where all the most important city organizations have been located since the Middle Ages: the court, the mayor's office, the post office, shopping malls. Now the square is decorated with magnificent buildings in the Flemish Gothic style, houses of trade guilds with emblems, monuments to famous citizens. Every Wednesday there is a market on the square, and in winter an elegant Christmas market opens.

The tower of the XIII-XV centuries, symbolizing the desire of the inhabitants of Bruges for independence and freedom. The height of the structure reaches 83 meters, at the top there is a bell tower consisting of 49 bells. In the past centuries, the tower served as a watchtower, since it was easy to notice the enemy approaching the city from it. Ancient certificates confirming the rights and freedoms of residents are kept inside.

The Town Hall is located on the central square of the Burg. The building was erected in the late XIII — early XIV century in the Flemish Gothic style. The architectural features of the structure are repeated in the town halls of other Belgian cities: Leuven, Ghent, Brussels. The Burg Square itself is the ancient center of Bruges, where the first Flemish count built his fortified castle. The square is surrounded by historical buildings of different eras and architectural styles.

Belgium is famous for its brewing traditions. The brewery "De Halve Maan Brewery" is located in the heart of the city, it was founded in the XVI century, but the building that has survived to this day dates back to the middle of the XIX century. Beer is made here according to the traditional Belgian recipe – with a sour taste, cloudy and with a short shelf life. "De Halve" is a small family business and produces its own beers.

An art gallery founded at the beginning of the XVIII century by members of the Free Society of Artists. The museum houses an invaluable collection of Flemish masters: Jan van Eyck, Hugo van der Goes, Hans Memling, Rogier van der Weyden and others. In separate halls there are paintings by Renaissance and Baroque masters, as well as works by artists of the XIX century. The Groening Museum is one of the most interesting in Bruges.

Once upon a time, a Belgian pharmacist created a unique cough medicine. He got bitter chocolate, and since then the history of this delicacy has begun. Bruges is often called the chocolate capital of Belgium. In the museum "Choco Story" you can see the whole history of the local chocolate industry and try the most incredible and unusual varieties of delicacies. The museum exhibits hundreds of chocolate sculptures of various colors and shapes.

The oldest hospital in Europe, organized by monks for the treatment of the poor and pilgrims. It is located in a building of severe and powerful medieval architecture. In the Middle Ages, this hospital was the largest medical institution in the whole district. The hospital chapel houses the Memling Museum, where the works of the famous and skillful master Hans Memling, created by him by order of the monks, are kept.

A museum where rich collections of sculptures, furniture, tableware, tapestries, ceramics and other decorative items of past centuries are exhibited. The museum's exposition covers several historical periods, it is located in a building of the XV century, which was owned by the aristocratic Van Gruuthus family. The collection began to form in the middle of the XIX century, it included many exhibits from the private collection of the family. The museum is closed for restoration until 2018.

Initially, the basilica was a chapel, which was built in the XII century to store scraps of sheep's wool with traces of the blood of Christ. These relics were brought from the Crusade and given to the Flemish Count Diederik Van de Alsace. Medieval Romanesque and later Gothic styles met in the architecture of the basilica. The relics of St. Basil, the great Byzantine preacher, are kept in the church.

The Cathedral of Bruges, crowned with a 122-meter bell tower. This elegant tower of the XV century is a recognizable symbol of the city. Inside the temple there is one of the greatest works of art of the Renaissance – the statue of the Virgin and Child by Michelangelo. The remains of the last Burgundian Duke Charles the Bold and his daughter Mary are buried in the church.

An ancient temple of the XV century, which has come down to our times in almost unchanged form. The interior has also survived five centuries. The church is a copy of the Jerusalem Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It was built by brothers from the noble Adorn family after their pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Inside there is a part of the cross on which Jesus was crucified and several other significant relics. The church still belongs to the descendants of the Adorn family.

The main city cathedral. Its history began in the X century with a small parish church. The brick building of the temple was erected in the XIII-XIV centuries. From the outside, the cathedral seems gloomy and gloomy. However, this impression is compensated by the rich interior decoration. Over the centuries, the temple was subjected to minor destruction, but it managed to preserve its original appearance thanks to careful reconstructions.

A commune like a monastery, where lonely women found shelter. But they did not take vows of celibacy and could leave the beguinage at any time. Such associations were common in the XIII century. The courtyard of the Beguines Society in Bruges named after St. Elizabeth occupies an entire block. It was founded in the first half of the XIII century, but most of the buildings belong to the XVII – XVIII centuries. The prevailing architectural style of the complex is Baroque.

A lake of amazing beauty, surrounded by lush flowering vegetation and romantic medieval buildings. People come here to relax, enjoy the silence and a special atmosphere. There are magnificent swans in the lake, which have been bred since the XV century by order of the former ruler of Flanders – the Austrian Emperor Maximilian. The ruler and his descendants have long been in the past, and beautiful birds still adorn this place.

The city canals are not only an attraction that gives Bruges a picturesque appearance, although walking along them is quite popular with tourists. Channels act as transport arteries. For many centuries, goods were delivered to the city through them and transport links were conducted. Without a network of canals, Bruges would look more gloomy and severe, and with them, the city claims to be the next "Venice of the North".