European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 29, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse The Belfry of Bruges provides a panoramic View of the City. Historic a quiet remembrance of the past by Susan Sobin staff writer. If you like exploring places that have made history try Bruges Belgium. Don t worry about arriving 500 years after the fact that s the pleasant part. Once As influential As Berlin and Brussels Bruges lost its stature in the 1500s. Now a quiet remembrance of the past it gives As perfect a picture of medieval City life As you la three centuries before Columbus discovered America this West belgian City was a thriving seaport connected by a canal to the North sea. About 100 ships could Anchor at its port. Made Rich by importing italian velvet Oriental carpets russian furs German wine and arabian spices Bruges attracted aristocracy clergy and artists. It became a showplace of Art and architecture. Along with Ghent it made the province of Flanders the Netherlands Belgium and Luxembourg the commercial Center of Northern Europe. In the 1400s, Silt began choking Bruges Harbor. By the Early 1500s ships could no longer sail in. They docked at Rotterdam and Antwerp instead. Bruges traders and financiers had to follow. Spoiled by two centuries of Prosperity Bruges had not bothered to build a merchant Fleet. Bruges is no longer a Metropolis. Today one of its main industries is tourism and visitors Are Welcome to enjoy the City at their Leisure. Start by exploring the historic Section or old town. Tour boats Drift slowly Down the canals and horse drawn carriages take visitors through the streets. Walking allows even closer investigation of the tangled alleyways and quaint architecture. The diver River runs through the Middle of the old town. On sunny Days reflections of Trees and gabled facades shimmer in the water. Antique shops line the River n , vendors at a Flea Market on the Bank sell old brass books jewelry and sketches. Be sure to take a break for a flemish Beer at one of the cafes. To Bruges old town in t As crowded As during the Day and the buildings and canals Are spectacularly lit. In the summer a Quot sound and Light Quot show takes place by the River at the House of the patricians. The tourist office has More information. Right an artist paints along the canal in Bruges old town. Below a quiet Side Street. When you tire of sightseeing visit the enticing shops just off the marketplace Tri the newer part of Bruges. Belgian specialities Are chocolate lace and diamonds. The language is flemish related to dutch but the natives readily answer questions in English. People in Bruges Are casual and Friendly. On a recent saturday a Jolly group of Young men cruised through town in outlandish feminine costumes. They do this they admitted laughingly to Start conversations with curious women. A Bruges has Many museums to visit on cold and Rainy Days. The City is known for its collection of 15th and 16th Century flemish paintings second Only to Brussels. One of Bruges most famous exhibits is in the Groenings museum at the intersection of and Groenings. It includes the works of Hans Memling Jan Van Eyck Gerard David Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Bruegel. Admission is 70 belgian francs about $2.30.a. A a but Don t expect pictures of Beautiful Busty women or Well endowed superheroes. Quot these men look just like me and most Guys in the locker room Quot quipped Art historian Andrew Stangel on a recent tour. He pointed to a thin Pale figure by Van Eyck. Quot while Michelangelo was painting Arnold Schwarzenegger nudes in the sistine Chapel Here they painted naked Quot Bruges Art displays a new realism Stangel said. Scholars regard it As Progress. With realism came greater attention to human. Problems and ethics. The judgment of Cambyses David 1498for instance portrays a magistrate being punished for bribery he is skinned alive. He grimaces horrified As the skin on his legs is peeled Back and his arms Are Slit open. Drops of sweat Bead up on his forehead and globs of blood Roll out of the wounds on his legs. The painting Hung in Bruges City halt for centuries to keep Public officials honest. Today it is in the Groenings museum. Bruges historic spots offer a close peek at medieval life and thought. An English language Guidebook with pictures and a map is available for 95 francs about $3.20 at most souvenir shops and the two tourist offices have information about walks bus Tours and private guides. Continued on Page 6 left the streets of Bruges come alive with a drum corps. Above the Church of our lady notre Dame towers above the canals. Top chocolate is one of the specialities of Belgium. November 29, 1990 stripes Magazine 5
