Brugge continued

Belgium does not have quite as many canals as the Netherlands, nevertheless there are many.  Here is a view of the canal as you walk from the central railways station into the old city.

This lovely building was unmarked on our map.  Not famous for anything it seems, nevertheless it completely captivated me.  It resembles a fairy tale castle.

Canal view with belfry in the background

Canal view with Church of Our Lady as background

Gentepoort, one of the three remaining preserved old city gateways.  There were 6 originally but only 3 remain.

Another beautiful old gate, the gate at the Gruuthuse Museum.

Gruuthus Museum

The tower of the museum

A streetscape.  Everywhere one looks are beautiful old buildings.  Once again, not unlike the Netherlands, where too lovely old buildings abound.  But Brugge is special.

Basilica of the Holy Blood

Closer view of its spire

This beautiful old building provides accommodation and hospice for the elderly. Hopefully it is also as beautiful and gracious inside as it is outside.

The back of Old St John's Hospital the 11th century hospital, one of Europe's oldest surviving hospital buildings.  The hospital grew during the Middle Ages caring for sick pilgrims and travellers.