Bruges & Belgian Chocolates
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Port
Zeebrugge (Brussels), Belgium
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Activity Level
Strenuous
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$129.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 5 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Often called Die Scone or the Beautiful One, Bruges (or Brugge in Flemish) will capture your heart immediately. Smaller and more contained than many other Flemish cities, Bruges makes it easy to believe you have entered a time warp. It is an exquisitely preserved medieval town -- a jewel beribboned with picturesque canals. Bruges came into its own in the Middle Ages as the chief market for the great Hanseatic League of mercantile cities. The town's illustrious artists, including Jan Van Eyck, Hans Memling and Gerard David, enjoyed the patronage of its wealthy bourgeoisie. The general prosperity, visible in the opulence of the mansions and civic buildings, lasted until the end of the 15th century.
A 30-minute drive from the port will bring you to this lovely city, where your guided walk will start. Wander with your guide through the narrow, twisting cobblestone streets, passing picturesque scenes of ancient buildings, tree-lined canals and gabled façades. See the bustling marketplace, the Belfry Tower, the Town Hall and the Chapel of the Holy Blood.
Belgium's finest export product is undoubtedly chocolate, and you will learn why its longstanding reputation is well deserved. Step inside a Belgian chocolatier's workshop to see firsthand how raw chocolate bars are made into fine Belgian chocolates using only the freshest and best ingredients. At the end, there is some time to purchase some Belgian chocolates if you wish and pay a brief visit to the Chocolate Museum (on your own at no additional expense).
Some free time will allow you to shop for the perfect souvenir among Bruges' lace and chocolate shops. Stroll past the romantic Lake of Love and back to your coach for the drive back to the ship.
Notes:
Wear comfortable walking shoes. Tour does not operate on holidays. Terrain includes even and uneven surfaces, cobblestones, and steps.