Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Bruges

Bruges already had its city charter in 1128 and was a very important member of the Hanseatic League. It was the prospering center of the Flemish cloth industry. Between 1200 and 1500 Bruges had a kind of "Golden Era". Bruges was a leading European business community. Center of the historic city of Bruges is the "Grote Markt" lined by impressive buildings. - Taken late afternoon from the panoramic terrace of the "Duvelorium Grand Beer Café", while sipping beer. The more I drank, the longer the shadows grew..

Bruges already had its city charter in 1128 and was a very important member of the Hanseatic League. It was the prospering center of the Flemish cloth industry. Between 1200 and 1500 Bruges had a kind of "Golden Era". Bruges was a leading European business community. Center of the historic city of Bruges is the "Grote Markt" lined by impressive buildings. In the backdrop is the belltower of the Sint-Salvatorskathedraal (St. Salvator's Cathedral). - Taken late afternoon from the panoramic terrace of the "Duvelorium Grand Beer Café", while sipping beer. - For the terrace - see previous upload.

The "Belfry of Bruges" is a medieval tower in the centre of Bruges. The belfry was erected around 1240. It caught fire in 1280, but got immediately rebuilt. Taken late afternoon from the panoramic terrace of the "Duvelorium Grand Beer Café", while sipping beer. - For the terrace - see previous upload.

Bruges already had its city charter in 1128 and was a very important member of the Hanseatic League. It was the prospering center of the Flemish cloth industry. Between 1200 and 1500 Bruges had a kind of "Golden Era". Bruges was a leading European business community. Center of the historic city of Bruges is the "Grote Markt" lined by impressive buildings, like this one. It houses an exhibition "Historium Bruges", that I found not that interesting. Part of the "Historium" is the "Duvelorium Grand Beer Café" (quoting the website) "the only real Duvel café in the world". It is a real treat and delight to try the different beers (of course all from the Duvel Brewery) while sitting on the panoramic terrace - and "watching the wheels..." If you visit Bruges, it is worth to climb up the stairs.. www.historium.be/en/duvelorium-grand-beer-caf%C3%A9

Bruges already had its city charter in 1128 and was a very important member of the Hanseatic League. It was the prospering center of the Flemish cloth industry. Between 1200 and 1500 Bruges had a kind of "Golden Era". Bruges was a leading European business community. In 1244 the béguinage 'de Wingarde' (= vineyard), was founded just south of the city by Margaret of Constantinople (aka "Margret the Black"), Countess of Flanders and daughter of Balduin I, the first emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople. Beguines lived in semi-monastic communities but did not take religious vows. They promised not to marry "as long as they lived as Beguines" but were free to leave at any time. They were part of a spiritual movement of the 13th century that stressed imitation of Christ's life through voluntary poverty, care of the poor and sick, and religious devotion. The béguinage includes a gothic church and about thirty small brick houses dating from the 16th, 17th and 18th century. Practically all of these are built around a central yard. No Beguines live here any more, but since 1927 a priory of Benedictine nuns revitalizes the monastic life. In 1998 this site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list together with 12 other Flemish béguinages.

Bruges is sometimes referred to as "The Venice of the North". Bruges once was the prospering center of the Flemish cloth industry. Most merchandise was punted on boats through the city. The large cog-ships were moored in the harbor. Between 1200 and 1500 Bruges had a kind of "Golden Era". Bruges was a leading European business community, - a large group of innovative and daring entrepreneurs. Business declined and Bruges crumbled over the next centuries, but many houses from the "Golden Era" survived and are well restored meanwhile. By now, this is a World Heritage Site of UNESCO. About 2.000.000 tourists visit Bruges annually. There is a certain spot from where the "classic" photo of Bruges is taken. In the center of these shots is a large willow, probably the most photographed tree in Belgium, maybe in Europe.. During my visit in March 2015 I found out, that located "behind" this willow is the patio of a small pub. So I could sit here, have a beer - and take a photo from the other side of the famous willow.

The "Belfry of Bruges" is a medieval tower in the centre of Bruges. The belfry was erected around 1240. It caught fire in 1280, but got immediately rebuilt. At that time Bruges was an important member of the Hanseatic League and prospered being the center of the Flemish cloth industry. At that time the belfry housed the treasury and the municipal archives. Of course it served as well as an observation post for spotting fires. Between 1484 and 1487 the octagonal upper stage was added - and for about three centuries the belfry was even higher, - topped by a wooden spire, that burnt down twice and was not replaced finally. A staircase leads to the top of the 83 m high building, many people will remember the belfry (and the narrow staircase inside) from the 2008 film "In Bruges".

Bruges already had its city charter in 1128 and was a very important member of the Hanseatic League. It was the prospering center of the Flemish cloth industry. Most merchandise was punted on boats through the city. The large cog-ships were moored in the harbor. Between 1200 and 1500 Bruges had a kind of "Golden Era". Bruges was a leading European business community, - a large group of innovative and daring entrepreneurs. Bruges declined over the next centuries. There was no need for new buildings - and so many houses of the historic city centre, meanwhile a World Heritage Site of UNESCO, date back to the "Golden Era". About 2.000.000 tourists visit Bruges annually. Back to the "Grote Markt". The house with the (neo-)gothic facade and the little spire is the "Cranenburg House", where in 1488 Archduke Maximilian of Austria, King of the Romans (later "Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor"), was imprisoned for about 5 months. During the War of the Burgundian Succession, revolts had rosen in the Flemish region. Maximilian had come to Bruges to negotiate, but the guilds of Bruges, who joined the revolt, were in arms and imprisoned him. A torture rack was brought to the market and Maximilian´s minister Pierre Lanchals (aka "Lankhals") was beheaded in front of the house. The pope excommunicated the rebels, Maximilian's father Frederick III raised an army that reached Flanders in April 1488. Maximilian made a deal with his captors. He was to relinquish the title "Count of Flanders", leaving control of the province in the hands of a government, in exchange for a yearly fee. But as soon as he had left Bruges, he broke the oath. The rebellion continued, but was finally crushed in 1492, when German troops, supported by an English fleet, blocked Bruges' trade routes and ports, what paralyzed the city's trade. Bruges and other Flemish cities were forced to accept Maximilian as regent.

Sint-Donaaskathedraal (= "St. Donatian's Cathedral"), located next to the "Burg" in the center of the historic city, was the largest church in Bruges. It was comissioned mid 10th century by Arnulf I, Count of Flanders, and was completed within the 13th century. Large parts of the church burnt down in 1184 and got replaced by a Romanesque structure that from 1559 was the see of the Bishop. In the aftermath of the French Revolution, the Diocese of Bruges got dissolved and the cathedral was sold as "biens nationaux" (National Property) and completely destroyed. Where the cathedral once was is now a luxury hotel. When it was built mid 1950s, the foundations of the cathedral were found - and can now be seen in the basement.

In 1134 Diederik van de Elzas (= Thierry d'Alsace"), Count of Flanders, commissioned to erect a chapel next to the his residence "Oud Steen" (now the town hall of Bruges). The chapel was dedicated to Saint Basil the Great. The basilica consisted of a lower and upper chapel, as a second chapel was erected on top of the Saint Basil chapel. Diederik joined the Second Crusade in 1147 and - according to the tradition - returned to Bruges with the relic of the "Holy Blood", allegedly collected by Joseph of Arimathea. So during the first half of the 13th century, the name of the upper chapel was changed to the Chapel of the Holy Blood. This (upper) chapel got severely damaged after the French Revolution and got rebuilt and renovated during the 19th century, giving it a very "neo-Gothic" touch. Seen on this blurry photo is the phial, that contains the Holy Blood. Three days ago, on Ascension Day the relic was in the center of the "Heilig Bloedprocessie" (= "Procession of the Holy Blood"), a ceremony that dates back to the 13th century. www.holyblood.com/?lang=en

In 1134 Diederik van de Elzas (= Thierry d'Alsace"), Count of Flanders, commissioned to erect a chapel next to the his residence "Oud Steen" (now the town hall of Bruges). The chapel was dedicated to Saint Basil the Great. The basilica consisted of a lower and upper chapel, as a second chapel was erected on top of the Saint Basil chapel. Diederik joined the Second Crusade in 1147 and - according to the tradition - returned to Bruges with the relic of the "Holy Blood", allegedly collected by Joseph of Arimathea. So during the first half of the 13th century, the name of the upper chapel was changed to the Chapel of the Holy Blood. This (upper) chapel got severely damaged after the French Revolution and got rebuilt and renovated during the 19th century, giving it a very "neo-Gothic" touch. As the phial, containing the Holy Blood is on display here, the chapel was overcrowded by people standing in line to see and venerate the relic. Seen next to the screen is an "Umbraculum" - a yellow/red umbrella. A symbol bestowed by Pope Pius XI when he elevated the church to the rank of a "Basilica Minor" in 1923. www.holyblood.com/?lang=en

In 1134 Diederik van de Elzas (= Thierry d'Alsace"), Count of Flanders, commissioned to erect a chapel next to the his residence "Oud Steen" (now the town hall of Bruges). This Romanesque chapel, dedicated to Saint Basil the Great, one of the Cappadocian Fathers, is seen here. The basilica consisted of a lower and upper chapel, as a second chapel was erected on this one. Diederik joined the Second Crusade in 1147 and - according to the tradition - returned to Bruges with the relic of the "Holy Blood", allegedly collected by Joseph of Arimathea. So during the first half of the 13th century, the name of the upper chapel was changed to the Chapel of the Holy Blood.

In 1134 Diederik van de Elzas (= Thierry d'Alsace"), Count of Flanders, commissioned to erect a chapel next to the his residence "Oud Steen" (now the town hall of Bruges). This Romanesque chapel, dedicated to Saint Basil the Great, one of the Cappadocian Fathers, is seen here. The basilica consisted of a lower and upper chapel, as a second chapel was erected on this one. Diederik joined the Second Crusade in 1147 and - according to the tradition - returned to Bruges with the relic of the "Holy Blood", allegedly collected by Joseph of Arimathea. So during the first half of the 13th century, the name of the upper chapel was changed to the Chapel of the Holy Blood.

Bruges already had its city charter in 1128 and was a very important member of the Hanseatic League. It was the prospering center of the Flemish cloth industry. Most merchandise was punted on boats through the city. The large cog-ships were moored in the harbor. Between 1200 and 1500 Bruges had a kind of "Golden Era". Bruges was a leading European business community, - a large group of innovative and daring entrepreneurs. Bruges lost importance and declined over the next centuries. There was no need for new buildings - and so many houses of the historic city centre, meanwhile a World Heritage Site of UNESCO, date back to the "Golden Era". About 2.000.000 tourists visit Bruges annually. Back to the "Grote Markt". The house with the (neo-)gothic facade and the little spire is the "Cranenburg House", where in 1488 Archduke Maximilian of Austria, King of the Romans (later "Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor"), was imprisoned for about 5 months. During the War of the Burgundian Succession, revolts had rosen in the Flemish region. Maximilian had come to Bruges to negotiate, but the guilds of Bruges, who joined the revolt, were in arms and imprisoned him. A torture rack was brought to the market and Maximilian´s minister Pierre Lanchals (aka "Lankhals") was executed in front of the house. The pope excommunicated the rebels, Maximilian's father Frederick III raised an army that reached Flanders in April 1488. Maximilian made a deal with his captors. He was to relinquish the title "Count of Flanders", leaving control of the province in the hands of a government, in exchange for a yearly fee. But as soon as he had left Bruges, he broke the oath. The rebellion continued, but was finally crushed in 1492, when German troops, supported by an English fleet, blocked Bruges' trade routes and ports, what paralyzed the city's trade. Bruges and other Flemish cities were forced to accept Maximilian as regent.

Bruges already had its city charter in 1128 and was a very important member of the Hanseatic League. It was the prospering center of the Flemish cloth industry. Most merchandise was punted on boats through the city. The large cog-ships were moored in the harbor. Between 1200 and 1500 Bruges had a kind of "Golden Era". Bruges was a leading European business community, - a large group of innovative and daring entrepreneurs. Bruges lost importance and declined over the next centuries. There was no need for new buildings - and so many houses of the historic city centre, meanwhile a World Heritage Site of UNESCO, date back to the "Golden Era". About 2.000.000 tourists visit Bruges annually, so it can get pretty crowded Here. The streets are decorated with banners flapping in the wind. Seen in the background is the Sint-Salvator Cathedral. The cathedral was a parish church until the 19th century. As the French revolutionary occupiers not only had kicked the bishop out of Bruges, but as well had teared down his residence the Sint-Donaaskathedraal in the late 18th century, this church obtained the status of a cathedral, when the bishop returned to Bruges in 1834.

Bruges is sometimes referred to as "The Venice of the North". Bruges already had its city charter in 1128 and was a very important member of the Hanseatic League. It was the prospering center of the Flemish cloth industry. Most merchandise was punted on boats through the city. The large cog-ships were moored in the harbor. Between 1200 and 1500 Bruges had a kind of "Golden Era". Bruges was a leading European business community, - a large group of innovative and daring entrepreneurs. Seen in the background is the Sint-Salvator Cathedral. The cathedral was a parish church until the 19th century. As the French revolutionary occupiers not only had kicked the bishop out of Bruges, but as well had teared down his residence the Sint-Donaaskathedraal in the late 18th century, this church obtained the status of a cathedral, when the bishop returned to Bruges in 1834.

Bruges already had its city charter in 1128 and was a very important member of the Hanseatic League. It was the prospering center of the Flemish cloth industry. Most merchandise was punted on boats through the city. The large cog-ships were moored in the harbor. Between 1200 and 1500 Bruges had a kind of "Golden Era". Bruges was a leading European business community, - a large group of innovative and daring entrepreneurs. The building seen in front is part of the "Oud Sint-Janshospitaal" (= "Old St. John's Hospital"), one of the oldest hospital buildings in Europe. Founded in the 11th-century the hospital was later expanded with the building of a monastery and convent.

Bruges is sometimes referred to as "The Venice of the North". Bruges already had its city charter in 1128 and was a very important member of the Hanseatic League. It was the prospering center of the Flemish cloth industry. Most merchandise was punted on boats through the city. The large cog-ships were moored in the harbor. Between 1200 and 1500 Bruges had a kind of "Golden Era". Bruges was a leading European business community, - a large group of innovative and daring entrepreneurs. There are still lots of boats on the canals, but now the boats are filled with tourists. Each boat is equipped with umbrellas, so that even during some drizzle, the passengers are well protected. The captain of the boat in the foreground prefered purple umbrellas, while his colleague had bought dark-green ones. Seen in the background is the tower of "Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk" (= "Church of Our Lady"). It is, at 122 metres in height, the second tallest brickwork tower in the world.