The Story of Bruges (Illustrated‪)‬

Bruges (Dutch: Brugge, French: Bruges, German: Brügge) is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country.


The history of Bruges stretches back to the 9th century when it was founded by Vikings. Indeed, the name Bruges (Brugge) is thought to derive from the old-Scandinavian word 'Brygga' meaning 'harbor' or 'mooring place'. The river Zwin linked the settlement to the North Sea and it very quickly became an important international trading port.


The history of Bruges is one of rise, fall and rise again. In the 12th century, Bruges gained city status, but soon after the Zwin started to silt up. Bruges adapted by creating outports in Damme and Sluis; simultaneously, land transport became more and more prevalent. Traders from all over the world continued to flock to the city to sell their wares and to buy internationally-acclaimed Flemish cloth, which was produced in various cities, including nearby Ghent.


There are buildings in Bruges which carry us back to the days of Baldwin Bras de Fer, perhaps to a still more remote period; four of the seven parish churches date from the twelve hundreds; the oldest of the civic monuments to at latest 1280, and from this epoch until the close of the Middle Age almost every year is marked by the erection of stately edifices, of which very many have come down to us.


The artists whose illustrations adorn this book have succeeded by means of a few skillful touches in laying before us a faithful reflection of the beauty of Bruges. Following in their footsteps, the author has attempted to tell the story of the men who created it; for the life story of the builders of Bruges is no less marvelous and no less alluring than are the monuments which they reared.