*Music : Audrey Hepburn, Moon River *
Bruges, a gem of medieval art, is loved in all seasons. But at Christmas, the city dons its finest finery and displays all its charm.
Winter Gloed in Bruges
Until 5 January 2025, as soon as night falls, the city will be decked out in a magnificent light show that will take you to all four corners of the city. A feast for the eyes and ears, the walk through the heart of the night with a group of onlookers takes on an enchanting air. Allow around an hour for the walk through the narrow medieval streets. You’ll even discover windmills on the outskirts of the town.
Where to eat in Bruges in Christmas
If you’re starting to feel the chill, there are two Christmas markets and a winter bar where you can warm up and have a bite to eat. Otherwise, all the usual restaurants are decked out in their finest Christmas decorations. For typical Flemish cuisine overlooking the canal, try ‘t huidevettershuis, where the menu (€28) includes the famous prawn croquettes, small soles or Flemish carbonades. For an afternoon tea in a charming setting, there’s the Hôtel de l’Orangerie on the canal, and for an after-dinner drink, the bar of the hôtel l’héritage. .
Culture in Christmas in Bruges
But there’s nothing better than a museum to warm you up. The Gruthuuse Museum is perfect if you’re travelling with a baby or child. It has pushchair parking and a large play area upstairs. In the blink of an eye, you’ll discover all the arts of Bruges, in the setting of a private mansion. Follow in the footsteps of Mr Gruthuuse, the former owner, and sit in his private chapel, which opens directly onto the adjoining cathedral. What class! A little more gory, but just as fascinating, is the Torture Museum, housed in Europe’s oldest prison. It will plunge you into the twists and turns of human cruelty. There’s a torture for every sin, and you’ll discover it with the real instruments of the time. The tortures imagined by George Orwell in 1984 or the scriptwriters of Game of Thrones are not at all fanciful. Sensitive souls please…
You’ll almost forget how magical Christmas can be! Let’s go and listen to Audrey Hepburn’s haunting song Moon River to take us back there. And now that you’re in Flanders, why not push on to Ghent?
How to get there?
Best by train!
*This is a translation from the original French article Bruges à Noël*