Bruges (Brugge) is without doubt one of the gems of northwest Europe, offering the visitor a rich combination of history and Flemish architectural splendours in a compact city centre, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000.

The city followed this up by becoming a European Capital of Culture two years later. Its importance as a destination belies its relatively small size (Bruges' population stands at around 117,000), attracting millions of visitors year round.

There is no doubt that a visit to Bruges is a rewarding experience. The city is a sheer pleasure just to wander around, discovering street after street of pretty Flemish buildings, delightful restaurants and bars, and more than its fair share of imposing historic monuments.

The climb to the top of the Belfry tower is not to be missed, neither is a boat ride along the picturesque waterways of the old city.

The city's name is believed to derive from the Old Norse bryggja, meaning landing stage or wharf, and Bruges' fortunes reached their zenith in the 13th and early 14th centuries, when the city was the most important trading centre in northwestern Europe.

Things went downhill until the late 19th century, when Bruges once more came ‘back to life', ironically almost entirely due to Georges Rodenbach's novel Bruges la Morte, which awakened international interest in what had become a sleepy backwater.

Modern Bruges is a dynamic, friendly, place, with a strong arts culture and all the ingredients of a successful tourist centre.