Bruges

Bruges was rightly chosen as a Cultural Capital of Europe for 2002. This tightly packed gem of a city has a host of fine museums - including the priceless collections of the Groeningemuseum and Memlingmuseum - an entrancing medieval skyline, and a web of picture-perfect canals. This guide also includes extensive sections on Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp, Ypres and Ostend. This guide is packed with ideas - for a romantic weekend, for the pick of the museums, or for telling neo-medieval architecture from the genuine article. It takes you off the tourist trail to the Bruges only the locals know - from medieval almshouses to ancient churches. Inside you'll find personal recommendations and insider knowledge to help you find the best of the city, from the Markt to the Minnewater. 65 hotels and 96 restaurants, plus bars, banquets and festivals are all personally reviewed. There are 14 detailed maps, 7 pages of full-color maps with grid-references to help you find all the sights and recommendations in this guide, as well as itineraries and a guided walk that takes you lace-buying, beer-tasting and to discover the roots of the old trading city. (5 x 8 1/2, 224 pages, color photos, maps)