A weekend in Bruges...

It's a splendid town in West Belgium, which deserves all the attention of artists and, of course, travel photographers.

Around 60km from the French border and 15km from the North Sea, Bruges, a city of over 100,000 inhabitants in the West Flanders region, offers artists a wealth of inspiration, whether you're a history, art or architecture enthusiast.

Indeed, the city was the capital of Flemish art thanks to the "great primitives" of the 15th century. The world-famous works of these Flemish masters are on display in the Groeninge Museum and St Saviour's Cathedral.

With its romantic atmosphere, Bruges is a city to discover for two. Sometimes called the Venice of the North because of the many canals that criss-cross the city. Depending on your preference, you can explore the city on foot or by canoe. As the city is quite touristy, you'll find departures in several places, and the routes vary.

In terms of architecture, the Grand Place: the Place du Markt is the heart of the town and represents 6 centuries of architectural diversity, visible through the facades of the cafés and restaurants, all dominated by the belfry. A special atmosphere reigns here, with onlookers and horse-drawn carriages passing by.

Night-time entertainment is not to be outdone; pubs, cafés and other businesses give the city a particularly pleasant vibrancy, allowing you to stay up, wait and enjoy the night-time lighting, which is great for photographic artists. (See the long shot: the Quai du Rosaire in Bruges: image on the front page)If you're a beer lover, you'll want to visit the beer museum! Gourmets are in for a treat! Bruges has an impressive list of gourmet restaurants. There are no fewer than 39 top chefs in Bruges, and 2 schools training the culinary talents of tomorrow.

Oh, but I almost forgot the chocolate museum. Of course, Belgium is also famous for its chocolate, and Bruges has its own chocolate museum. Don't hesitate to visit it to learn more about its history, origins, varieties, culture and even the art of chocolate making. In fact, there are many chocolate factories in Bruges, where chocolate is used in countless recipes.

All in all, as you will have realised, Bruges is a city where it's a good idea to stay for several days to see it all, or at least a long weekend for the most part! ( Visit the entire Bruges photo gallery in the online shop! ),

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Do you know Bruges? Have you visited Bruges?

What was your experience?

David