Belgium is world famous for its chocolates, beer and lace. It seems a strange combination of products and the history of each is fascinating. Belgian beer production is probably the oldest of the three, beer has been brewed and drunk in Belgian provinces from the time of the first Crusades. Lace making in Belgium was started in the 15th century. Belgium's chocolate production is more recent, from the start of the 20th century. Bruges is a testimony to all three, with its many chocolatiers, breweries and lace shops.

Belgian Chocolate in Bruges

The luxury chocolate trade today is centered around Belgium and this is generally though to be because the Belgians invented praline. In 1912, Jean Neuhaus, founder of the famous Neuhaus-brand, invented a chocolate layer or shell filled with a soft fondant center or nut paste. It was, however, The Duke of Plessis-Pralin, an ambassador serving Louis XIII, who was responsible for the name, pralines. Bizarrely, he had the idea of distracting the rebels of Bordelais by coating almonds in a sugar-based crust, he discussed this with chefs of the time and praline was born!

Belgian pralines are chic and elegant and require appropriate packaging to protect them. So in 1920 Jean Neuhaus designed a suitable packaging for his pralines: the famous rectangular box, also known as the ballotin, that to this day cherishes Belgian chocolates all over the world. Until then Belgian pralines were wrapped in small cone-shaped paper bags.

Belgian pralines still retain an air of luxury and decadence and are as popular and delicious as ever.

Belgian Beers

The Belgians are passionate about beer and have been since the mid 5th century, long before Belgium became an independent country. Under Catholic church permission, local French and Flemish abbeys brewed and distributed beer as a fund raising method. The relatively low-alcohol beer of that time was preferred as a sanitary option to available drinking water.

Belgium produces beers in a remarkably diverse range of styles, and beer is an extremely important part of Belgian culture and heritage, woven into the very fabric of the kingdom.
Lots of choice!

What are now traditional, artisanal brewing methods evolved, under abbey supervision, during the next seven centuries. The Trappist monasteries that now brew beer in Belgium were occupied in the late 18th century primarily by monks fleeing the French Revolution. However, the first Trappist brewery in Belgium (Westmalle) did not start operation until 10 December 1836, almost 50 years after the Revolution. That beer was exclusively for the monks and is described as "dark and sweet." The first recorded sale of beer (a brown beer) was on 1 June 1861
Decision made!

Belgian Lace

It is believed that early manufacturing of lace began in Ancient Rome, based on the discovery of small bone cylinders in the shape of bobbins. During the 15^th century, Charles Vth decreed that lace making was to be taught in the schools and convents of the Belgian provinces. It was designed to replace embroidery. Since then many styles and techniques of lace making have been developed, almost all of them in Belgian.
Today, two main techniques are practiced in the Flemish provinces of Belgium. Bobbin Lace, a speciality of Bruges, very expensive to make and therefore no longer manufactured for commercial purposes. Second, needle lace, sometimes called Renaissance or Brussels lace, because it is mostly sold in Brussels. Today lacemaking employs about one thousand lace workers, all of them ladies aged between fifty and ninety years of age.

Regardless of whether beer, chocolate or lace are of any interest, a visit to this charming, historical, northern European city is a total delight no matter the weather or time of year. There are many delicious places to eat, we had a wonderful evening in  Bistro Christophe, which oozed charm, offered good service, was reasonably priced and most importantly had great food!!

There are also some lovely places to stay in Bruges, take a peek at the previous post for more information and do let me know about your travels to Bruges I hope you will love it as much as we did!

The post Chocolate, beer and lace from Bruges, Belgium appeared first on Shutters & Sunflowers.

Bruges, Belgium, a little out of way when driving north through France to Calais but we couldn't resist revisiting this fabulous UNESCO World Heritage city again, especially as our previous visit had been 27 years ago and fleeting at that, on a damp February day! This time the weather co-operated and we saw Bruges at her very best, it really is an extraordinarily beautiful city, well deserving of its World heritage UNESCO status. Steeped in a rich history with breathtaking, medieval, Flemish architecture at every turn, Bruges is situated on a canal system just minutes from the port which hundreds of years ago helped establish it as an important trading center. It is easily accessible by Eurostar from England and if you are driving, just over an hour from Calais. In a European city like Bruges it is often well worth considering B&B's where you can find yourself in a far more captivating, boutique environment with more attentive, personal service for far less money than a hotel and your experience will be far more reflective of the place you are staying. In Bruges we stayed in Sint Nicklas, a delightful B&B very conveniently located behind the market place. Our room was very comfortable and well appointed and Anne our hostess could not have been more friendly and helpful suggesting places to visit and eat, seeing us off each day with a delicious breakfast.

The Canals of Bruges

Boarding the boats for the canal in Bruges

Grote Markt, the Market Square in Bruges,

The famous market square in Bruges, located in the heart of the city, dates back to 958 and was the medieval, commercial centre of Bruges. Covering an area of about a hectare, today it remains bustling and vibrant, flanked with stunning buildings from a bygone era, newer restaurants and shops located in old Guild Halls. It is possible to take a carriage tour by horse from here or just sip a Belgian beer (there are lots to choose from!) at one of the cafés and watch the world go by!.The old Guild Hall buildings are now restaurants in the Bruges Market Place, shown in the picture at the top of the page.

Statue of Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck 

The statues at the centre of the square are of Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck who were leading figures in the resistance against the French occupation of 1302.

The Bottertoren Tower, Belfry of Bruges

The Belfry and cloth hall, on the north side the Provincial Court, is one of the city's most impressive monuments, a beautiful neo-gothic structure. Its predecessor was in the Classical style, but an 1878 fire destroyed the building and the new structure was built in neo-gothic style to match the rest of the city. In the Middle Ages the Belfry and cloth hall was used for storing and displaying the much coveted Flemish cloth as well as other goods. The halls were used for exhibitions and trade fares.

The 83m high belfry consists of 3 layers. The bottom brick 2 square sections date from the 13^th century. The top octagonal lantern tower was built in Brabant limestone in 1482 – 1486. Belfries like this are typically found in Flanders, Northern France and Wallonia in Southern Belgium. By adding many of these belfries to their world heritage list in 1999 and 2005, UNESCO formerly recognized the significance they had played to the prosperity and autonomy of these late medieval cities.

The belfry from the inner courtyard

Provincial Court in the Grote Markt, Bruges

Strolling under the arch ways of Bruges

The Sint-Salvator Cathedral  

Sint-Salvator is the main church of the city in modern Bruge. Dating from the 10th century when it was the Parish church, it was not designated as a cathedral until the 19th century.

Roof tops of Bruges

Bruges, just as beautiful at night

There is so much to see and explore in this captivating historical city, and I have yet to mention the famous Belgian chocolates or talk about its beer, lace and cheese...... next time!

The post Bruges Belgium appeared first on Shutters & Sunflowers.