Making our way toward the main town square, we passed by a statue of the cheerful bird-fancier Papageno, a character from Mozart's
The Magic Flute in front of the City Theater.
This photo of a toy store window captured the buildings across the street much better than the adorable display of teddy bears.
In Market Square, for centuries the center of the city's political, economic and social life. This was also the main gathering spot for tourists, and there were a lot. Pictured above is the 19th century neo-Gothic Provincial Palace.
Row of stores and cafés
Top of one of the buildings
The stone Belfry dates back to the end of the 13th century. The 272-foot high Belfry has 47 bells that play a tune every quarter of an hour.
The belfry was added to the main market square around 1240, when Bruges was prospering as an important center of the Flemish cloth industry. After a devastating fire in 1280, the tower was largely rebuilt. Over the centuries a wooden spire topping the belfry was struck by lightening and destroyed, rebuilt and then destroyed by flames again. There is no wooden spire today.
Brugge is known for its many brick buildings, such as the Belfry.
A circus truck arriving to set up in the square. This truck elicited a "Hey! Do you see that truck?" from our kids.
Model of the Belfry for the visually impaired to examine
Map of the city
We love looking in souvenir shops. Wooden shoes are not just for the Netherlands. In fact, our German neighbor wears them all the time.
Belgian lace
I loved the lace on this Christening gown.
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