Bruges

Description

Located towards the northwest of Belgium, Bruges is the largest city and the capital city of the country's West Flanders province. Its municipality comprises the historic city centre of Bruges, Sint-Jozef and Sint-Pieters, Koolkerke, Sint-Andries, Sint-Michiels, Assebroek, Sint-Kruis, Dudzele and Lissewege. It is a canal-based city and is considered to be the "Venice of the North" due to its numerous canals.

Bruges offers a rich history and past, with origins of the city dating back to the Pre-Roman Gaul era when the first traces of human life are believed to have been found. It was also one of the first popular tourist destinations in the world - somewhere during the mid 19th century - and was frequented by masses of rich tourists from Britain and France.

Bruges is famed for its medieval architecture, most of which are still intact and features numerous places-of-interest including the historic centre of Bruges which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition to its historical buildings and monuments, visitors to the city can also witness a number of museums, cinemas, theatres and concert halls scattered throughout the city.

Nearby Airports

Though travelling by train is the easiest way to access Bruges, the city can also be reached by a number of airports. Airports in the vicinity include the Brussels Airport and the Brussels South Charleroi Airport which are located in the capital city of Brussels and Charleroi city respectively.

Halal Restaurants

Finding Halal food in Bruges will not be that difficult due to the availability of a few Halal restaurants in Bruges. Some of the better known Halal restaurants in the city include the Subway located at Eiermarkt 20 and Toet Anch Amon located at Academiestraat 6. For fish and seafood options, Muslim travellers could try out the Mosselkelder located at Huidenvettersplein 5 which is an inexpensive spot for delicious mussels and frites. When in doubt, it is always recommended that you check with restaurant owners about the preparation of food and the availability of Halal menus.

Mosques

There are a few mosques in Bruges available for Muslim travellers and therefore access to prayer facilities in Bruges will not be that difficult. It is possible to visit the Islamic Cultural Center located at Diksmuideheirweg 169 for more information on where to find the nearest local mosque in Bruges.

Things to Do and See in Bruges

• Groeninge Museum  
• The Begijnhof  
• The Hospital of St John  
• Choco-Story Museum  
• Diamond Museum  
• The Friet Museum  
• Lucifernum   
• Chocolate shops!