why was bruges in flanders such a desirable course hero

How did Bruges become an important city?

The Markt (market square) Bruges became important due to the tidal inlet that was important to local commerce, This inlet was then known as the "Golden Inlet". Bruges received its city charter on 27 July 1128, and new walls and canals were built. In 1089 Bruges became the capital of the County of Flanders.

What happened to Bruges in WW1?

In World War I German forces occupied Bruges but the city suffered virtually no damage and was liberated on 19 October 1918 by the Allies. From 1940 in World War II the city again was occupied by the Germans and again spared destruction.

What is the education in Bruges like?

Bruges is an important centre for education in West Flanders. Next to the several common primary and secondary schools, there are a few colleges, like the VIVES ( a fusion of the former KHBO (katholieke hogeschool Brugge Oostende) and the KATHO (katholieke hoge school) or the HOWEST ( Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen ).

Why did Bruges refuse to twin with nice?

Also, it was thought in Bruges that twinning was too often an occasion for city authorities and representatives to travel on public expense. This principle resulted, in the 1950s, in Bruges refusing a jumelage with Nice and other towns, signed by a Belgian ambassador without previous consultation.

What is Bruges known for?

Bruges is known for its lace, a textile technique. Moreover, the city and its famous lace would go on to inspire the Thread Routes film series, the second episode of which, shot in 2011, was partly set in Bruges.

What was the first fortification built in the Bruges area?

In the Bruges area, the first fortifications were built after Julius Caesar 's conquest of the Menapii in the first century BC, to protect the coastal area against pirates.

What is the capital of Belgium?

Bruges ( / bruːʒ / BROOZH, Dutch: Brugge [ˈbrʏɣə] ( listen)) is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country, and the seventh-largest city of the country by population.

What movie was the Madonna of Bruges in?

The story of the removal of the Madonna of Bruges being removed by the Nazis and then returned is told in the fact-based 2014 movie The Monuments Men .

What is the best preserved medieval town in Europe?

Bruges has most of its medieval architecture intact, making it one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. The "Historic Centre of Bruges" has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. Many of its medieval buildings are notable, including the Church of Our Lady, whose brick spire reaches 115.6 m (379.27 ft), making it the world's second-highest brick tower/building. The sculpture Madonna and Child, which can be seen in the transept, is believed to be the only of Michelangelo 's sculptures to have left Italy within his lifetime.

How big is the city of Brugge?

The area of the whole city amounts to more than 13,840 hectares (138.4 km 2; 53.44 sq miles), including 1,075 hectares off the coast, at Zeebrugge (from Brugge aan zee, meaning "Bruges by the Sea"). The historic city centre is a prominent World Heritage Site of UNESCO.

What is the opera Die Tote Stadt based on?

The libretto of Erich Wolfgang Korngold 's opera Die Tote Stadt (1920) is based on this book. The detective stories of Belgian writer Pieter Aspe are situated in Bruges. Niccolò Rising (1986), the first volume of Dorothy Dunnett 's eight-book series, House of Niccolò, is largely set in Bruges.