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Bruges, Belgium: Top Sights
Whether you choose to tour the city's galleries and museums or just gaze at the wonderful architecture around you, make sure you leave the car behind. The centre of the city is small and vehicle use is severely restricted. First stop should be the medieval square and focal point of the city; the Burg. Next up, immerse yourself in the architecture of the city with a canal trip (5 euros) or horse-drawn carriage ride (22 euros).
Religion has played a pivotal role in shaping this city. The key buildings to see are the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk (Church of Our Lady) - whose steeple is the tallest brick construction in the world) - that houses Michelangelo's small Madonna and Child and the Heilig-Bloed Basiliek (Basilica of the Holy Blood) - with a vial purported to contain drops of Christ's blood. Also worth a look is the Begijnhof, the white-washed former home of the Beguines. The Beguines were widows of fallen crusaders who lived a benevolent and devout life in the city. They moved out in 1930 and a Benedictine community now occupies the building.
