If you like to walk than do the
Gates walk. This walk is an interesting city walk as well as a
magnificent nature walk. Almost the entire route runs through the
leafy areas surrounding the ramparts. Gates Walk focuses on
Bruges' city gates. You will also get to see the leafy outskirts
of the city. Many other points of interest are situated on or near
the walking route. Nothing is to stop you from taking a detour to
discover the rest of Bruges.
There are four remaining gates in Bruges.
The white limestone Kruispoort (town gate) at the end of
Peperstraat dates from 1402. Running north from the gate,
Kruisvest follows the line of the old ramparts.
The Smedenpoort:The first
gate here became operational in 1368. Most of the present building
dates from 1615, when the upper section was modified. In the
course of the 14th century, several gates were built as part of
the fortification of the city, but from the 16th century the
fortification had to be reviewed due to the greater range of
canons and other artillery. The bronze skull above the
left-hand side passage through the gate reminds us of the
execution of traitor François vander Straeten.
The construction of the Ezelpoort
was commissioned in 1369. It was modelled on the Smedenpoort.
Take a walk to the brick Gentpoort
from 1401 that takes you trough a wonderful natural environment.
The Gentpoort probably had the most important strategic location
of all the city's gates. It is where the road to Ghent starts.
Together with six other historical top locations, this gate is
part of a concept called the Historical Museums of Bruges
(Bruggemuseum). A new Gentpoort museum about the city gates and
ramparts will open to the public in 2007.
On the canal side are three windmills one of which, the
Sint-Janshuysmolen (1770), can sometimes be seen working.
|