Experience Medieval Art and Architecture in Picturesque Brugge | National Geographic

[Music] First settled by Vikings, this Flemish city grew into a nexus of medieval trade routes. It has withstood economic downturns and world wars and remains one of the best-preserved examples of a medieval European settlement. Bruges, also known as Bruges, is located in Belgium's Flanders region. The town's strategic connection to the North Sea made it into a major commercial centre. Merchants from around the continent met here, bringing a hodgepodge of languages and cultural influences.

The city grew into a hub of art and architecture during the Renaissance. It was the center of the Flemish primitives painting school and home to master artists like Yann Van Eyck and Hans Memling. However, the city's fortunes flowed throughout the centuries. By the 1500s, Antwerp had supplanted Bruges as a trading centre. [Music]

And just three hundred years later, Bruges was one of Europe's poorest cities. Today, Bruges has a new lease on life as a tourist destination. Guests from around the world flocked to the city to float down its historic canals and under its picturesque stone bridges. Many of the original Gothic structures remain intact, including the imposing 13th-century belfry overlooking the town square.

Enterprising visitors can climb 366 steps for a panoramic view of the city. The medieval structures blend harmoniously with the neo-Gothic buildings and facades constructed in the late 19th century, preserving the town's old-world atmosphere. The city has its own international airport and it's a short drive from nearby Brussels. Late spring and early fall are the best times to visit this charming Flemish town. [Music] [Music]