The Burghers of Bruges

We propose a quick mid-week sortie to this delightful medieval town for which we have negotiated special tariffs. Bruges was once an important inland port with England as its major trading partner. The resultant trade made the city and its merchants rich, being at one time the most prosperous city in Europe. The original ‘Burghers of Bruges’ have bequeathed a treasure house of architectural, colourful and unusual shapes that could not have come from the planner’s hand, but rather through time formed and shaped by a hidden cohesive spirit. This programme is primarily designed for art lovers but allows for individual flexibility of itinerary. It presents the treasures of Flemish painting from the 15th-century devotional panels of the Van Eyck’s to the early 17th-century works of Rubens up to the secular masterpieces – town, land and seascapes, still life and portraiture – of the Golden Age of Flemish art. The Gothic architecture provides a fascinating backdrop while decorative art collections display treasures of Flemish tapestry, Antwerp art cabinets, Delft tiles and pottery and fine Lowlands furniture. An added attraction during December is the popular Christmas market that surrounds the open-air ice rink in the market square, with colourful lights and stalls crammed with festive treats.