Bruges ( Brugge ). A voyage to Bruges, Belgium, Europe

Touristy, overcrowded and a tad fake. Preface any other city with these descriptions and it would be struck off the list. But not Bruges (Brugge in Flemish, Bruges in French). This Flemish city is Belgium’s most popular destination and, despite being overrun much of

the year, it’s not to be missed.

Suspended in time centuries ago, Bruges is now one of Western Europe’s most-visited medieval cities. Picturesque market squares, dreamy canals and old whitewashed almshouses all evoke a world long since gone. But its reputation as one of the most perfectly preserved cities is in part fabrication. Bruges has been renovated time and again to retain its medieval appearance. Whereas what you see reflects that of centuries ago, much of the architecture dates only from the 19th and 20th centuries.

To enjoy Bruges,

timing is essential. Stay overnight or late on a midsummer evening, when the carillon chimes seep through the cobbled streets, and local boys (illegally) cast fishing rods into willow-lined canals. Visit in spring when daffodils carpet the tranquil begijnhof (a walled community once housing a Catholic order of women), or in winter when you can sometimes skate on the canals and have the town almost to yourself. At these times, Bruges readily reveals its age-old beauty. Alternatively, jump on a bike and cycle off for the day. By the time you return, most of the day-trippers will be well on their way.