VIP BRUGES TOUR

During the VIP Bruges tour, on the way (about 3hours of driving), your personal driver-guide will give you first an introduction of the history of Bruges. There, your personal driver-guide will take you to the Market Square, the medieval heart of the city surrounded by spectacular neo-Gothic buildings. If you wish, you will visit the splendid Belfry Tower, the proud symbol of Bruges’s independence for centuries with its original cloth hall that used to house 384 sales stands. The stiff climb of its 366 staircases with a display of the old treasury room will be rewarded with an unforgettable panorama. Then, you will enjoy a nice stroll through the streets of the city looking at the impressive Provincial Courthouse before joining the Burg Square, the heart of the administrative Bruges with the Gothic Town Hall dating from 1376, one of the most beautiful buildings of the city, its monumental front facade displaying the town weapons and its large staircase leading to the so called Gothic Hall with spectacular wall paintings that illustrate the most important historical events of Bruges. You will also visit the Court of Justice with its famous chimney in wood, marble and alabaster built in 1528 and the Chapel of Holy Blood that displays the ampule reputed to contain the blood of Christ that was brought back from Jerusalem after the second crusade by Diederik van den Elzas (visit of the Romanesque Basilius chapel on the ground level and of the Gothic Chapel with the Relic on the first floor). It is now time for a lunch in a very nice, typical Belgian restaurant (lunch not included in the price). After this culinary break, you will enjoy a relaxing Boat Cruise (around 45 minutes) on the Canals of Bruges, these remarkable city arteries where you will discover secret gardens, picturesque bridges, and wonderful still lives. Then, your personal driver-guide will lead you to the shopping area to discover the Chocolate Boutique (Bruges is the world capital of chocolate) where you will make a break to enjoy one of their delicious chocolates. You will spend the night in Bruges (hotel not included in the price) where, if you need, we could book your dinner in a restaurant.

On the second day, you will start by a private guided visit of the Groenige Museum where you will discover the highlights of the world-famous collection of Flemish Primitives like Van Eyck, Van der Goes, Memling, Gerard David as well as various Renaissance and Baroque masters. Then, you will visit the Church of Our Lady with its 122-meter high brick steeple (the highest in Europe) that dominates the skyline of the city. This “high spot” of stonemason’s art in medieval Bruges, plays host to a rich collection of art treasures of which the crowning glory is the “Madonna and Child” by Michelangelo, the only work of the master that left Italy during his life time. Next to Our Lady’s Church is one of the marvelous, medieval residential courts called Godshuizen (the houses of God), a group of houses built out of mortar and charity with their picturesque gardens, whitewashed facades and glorious silence, the city’s havens of peace (visit if time). After that, your personal driver-guide will take you to a small local Beer Brewery (Belgium is the world capital of beer) where you will discover the secret of making beer and taste a glass at the end (if you want). It is now time for a lunch in a very nice, typical Belgian restaurant (lunch not included in the price). After lunch, you will have a look at the former Hospital that houses some exceptional paintings of Hans Memling like the legend of St Ursula or the marriage of St Catherine or the Wisemen. After this visit, your personal driver-guide will drive you back to Paris. This tour due to the VIP treatment that we provide will leave you without doubt outstanding memories of these 2 days in Bruges.