Churches / Museums / Parks, Brugge

Queen Astrid was a Swedish Princess who married into the Belgian Royal family in 1926 when she married Crown Prince Leopold...the son of King Albert the 1st of Belgium....who led the Belgians against the German armies during the First World War...Astrid became the most popular queen in Belgian history and long story short was tragically killed in a vehicle accident in Switzerland in 1935...

Soon after her death this park was named after her...early in the parks history it was known as Hof der Recollete" (Garden of the Recollets) or the Franciscan garden.

This lovely little gem is tucked away in the center of Brugges...and is an English Garden design...thick foliage around the perimeter is meant to isolate the park...you really don't even know that you're in the middle of a fairly large bustling city..

Garden architect Edigius Rosseels was hired to complete this project on land that was once was owned by the Friar Minors who had settled in Brugges around 1221.The land grant to the Friars was about the year 1226....they originally built a convent on the land...

As I was visiting during mid April the gardens were not obviously in full bloom but it was certainly a peaceful setting....worth taking a look....better yet...a great place to "hide out" and relax for a little while....

2 more images

The Jerusalem Church is odd in that it remains intact in its original form from the 14th century when the Adorni family, merchants from Genoa, Italy settled in the area and built it and it remains privately owned by their descendants till this day. Copied from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem it is a morbid experience resplendent with a faux tomb of Christ as well as the original owners’ personal and quite ornate burial site. Ornate stained glass windows from the late 1400s make it well worth the pleasant walk out there.

Bruges was named "Cultural Capital of Europe" in 2002 and it is not difficult to see why. This is a city that pays homage to the ARTS (albeit to attract tourist dollars) . You'll see two operas within the city, perfectly preserved olde buildings, locals practicing ancient arts like lace making and emboidery, good arts exhibitions ( there was a Dali and Rodin Exhibition when I was there) and street buskers everywhere.

Picture: This busker gallantly kissed the hand of this lady after she gave him a token sum for his performance.

The Abbey of the Dunes (Duinenabdij) at Koksijde (Coxyde) on the Belgian coast was founded in the 12th century and destroyed in 1560. After its destruction, the monks established themselves in a building on the Potterierei.

This 18th century abbey houses paintings, illuminated manuscripts and books and other religious works of art.

After St. Anne's church, this was our next stop. A place where the nuns of St. Augustin settled after being banished from England in the 17th century.

This is also where the remains of Tomas More are and where Guido Gezelle died in 1899.

The domed church was built in the 1st half of the 18th century, following the designs of Hendrik Pulinckx.

We were on our way to see the windmills when we came upon this simple church on St. Annaplein. The 1st thing we noticed was the pointed spire.

We found out that famous Flemish poet Guido Gezelle was baptized here in 1830.

The church was built in the 1st half of the 17th century.

As we were walking towards the centre of the city from the train station, we noticed the tower of this unusual church and simply had to visit it.

This is 1 of the largest and oldest churches in the city. The construction was started in 1280 and was ended in 1350. Its tower was finished in the 19th century.

Take a look at its pulpit, the huge statue of the Creator and the 18th-century tapestries.

Now here finally is Queen Astrid Park. Queen Astrid died in 1935 in a car crash, after only having been queen for 2 years. She is the 'princess Diana' of the Belgians. She was beautiful, young, very popular and the Belgians still admire and honour her mythical quality.