In just a couple hours from Paris, you can be in Belgium !
I moved to Paris in late January of 2020. In February 2020, there was a Van Eyck exhibition in Gent. My husband wanted to go, so we went. Welcome to life in Europe. In 2.5 hours, we drove to another country.
I had never been to Belgium, so we first went to Bruges.
Take a walking tour of Bruges here.
Bruges
Bruges is the largest city and the capital of the western, Flemish region of Belgium. With it’s beautiful canals, it is known as the Venice of the North. It is one of the best preserved medieval towns of Europe and has been a part of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites since 2000.
I had my first Belgian fries in Bruges, fries cooked in beef fat that give them flavor. I also had my first Belgian waffle in Bruges. Made right in front of you and covered in chocolate, it was so delicious !
So, the first thing to do in Bruges is eat ! And drink, Belgium is known for its beer !
Next, you should visit the belfry. The belfry is in the Markt, the market square, and was built in the 13th century. It is free to climb to the top for a wonderful view of the city !
Ghent
Ghent is about 45 minutes from Bruges.
In the Middle Ages, Ghent was an important city. After the 16th century, Ghent became less important, thus preserving the city architecture, making it a tourist attraction today.
There’s lots to do and see in the city. We mostly went for the Van Eyck exhibition, although we also did some exploring.
Some must-sees in the city include the Gravensteen, which is a medieval castle dating to 1180.
Take a guided boat tour of the city here.
There’s lots of history to explore, but don’t forget about Belgian chocolate and beer ! Take a chocolate tour here. Take a beer tour here.
Back to the reason we went to Belgium : Jan Van Eyck who was born in the 14th century. He is really what tied these two cities together for us. He spent his golden years in Bruges but painted the Ghent altar piece around 1430. At the time of Van Eyck, Ghent was the largest industrial city in Europe.
See the virtual exhibition here.
Less than a week after we got back from our road trip to Belgium, Covid-19 shut the world down. So, don’t wait ! Travel now !
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