Bruges was one of the most prosperous cities in Europe during the Middle Ages, ranking with London, Paris, Rome and the other great ones. It was in those times one of the most important and active trading and artistic centers in Europe.

Its strategic geographical situation made Bruges a very important commercial crossroads, while, at the same time, it was the cradle of one of the leading painting tendencies of all times, the Flemish School.

Suddenly, Bruges lost its importance when the Zwin River, which connected the city to the sea, silted up in a very short period of time, which meant that it lost its advantageous position. Since then, the city stopped growing and progressing and most of its inhabitants moved somewhere else.

As a consequence, nowadays we have the possibility to visit the best-preserved old city in Europe, with many medieval buildings, unaffected by the architectural trends of later eras.

Spending a couple of days in Bruges (a minimum of two or three is recommendable) is a journey into the past. Strolling around the old town is one of the most memorable and relaxing experiences in Europe, while visiting its many attractions is a living lesson of Gothic and Flemish architectures and Flemish painting.

The Memling and Groeninge Museums, the gothic Town Hall, the Church of our Lady, the Basilica of the Holy Blood, the Belfry Tower, as well as the Burg and Market Squares, among many other attractions, should not be missed.

Accommodation can be a very important part of a trip to Bruges: several historic buildings, in some cases officially listed as such by the Belgian government, are nowadays extraordinary lodging options, some of them quite inexpensive.