PlanetSKI Visits Belgium

twenty fifth September 2025

In reality not rather a lot, however there are connections, and we have now been sporadically posting this summer time about what PlanetSKI will get as much as exterior of the winter ski season.

Judging by the web page views the articles have acquired, our readers have an curiosity.

Earlier this month we have been in Greece the place we learnt a lot in regards to the snowboarding within the nation recognized extra for sand than snow.

Now we’re in Belgium.

Day One:

The beginning of the journey on the Eurostar jolted our ski reminiscence because it reminded us how travelling by the prepare to the Alps is a pleasure moderately than a chore.

Arrival simply an hour or so earlier than departureSimple safety and examine inNo weight restrictions on luggageAn enticing buildingComfortable seatsGreat views because the panorama rolls by

We’ll once more be travelling to the Alps by prepare subsequent season no doubt.

The prepare to Brussels stopped at Lille, the place within the winter one merely adjustments platforms to go to the Alps.

This ski season the timetable has been prolonged.

Now Belgium has a number of snowboarding connections.

It has a handful of ski areas when circumstances enable and a few indoor ski slopes.

We wouldn’t advocate it as a ski vacation spot in any respect, however we all the time discover it fascinating to find wherever on the planet the place snowboarding will be discovered.

Baraque de Fraiture within the Ardennes area is the very best level in Belgium at 654m.

This makes it among the finest spots in Belgium for out of doors snowboarding – if snow falls.

It’s positioned in Vielsalm and gives three ski slopes with three ski lifts.

There’s additionally Val de Wanne, with two ski lifts and a 1km slope – the longest in Belgium.

There’s additionally over 10kms of cross-country snowboarding when sufficient snow falls.

Different ski areass embody Le Montry Lierneux, Montes des Brumes, Ovifat and Thier des Rexhons.

Solely two ski areas enable snowboarders, as a consequence of issues of safety: Baraque de Fraiture and Thiers des Rexhons.

There are indoor slopes on the Ice Mountain Journey Park in Komen that has two slopes (210m and 85m).

There are two different indoor ski slopes – SnoWorld Antwerpenn and Snow Valley in Peer.

The Belgians love their snowboarding and are an essential marketplace for the alpine locations.

The Benelux nations are within the high three abroad market for a lot of main resorts.

Out of a complete inhabitants of 12m it’s estimated 11% of Belgians ski.

On this quick journey to Belgium we’re heading to Bruges.

Like lots of the smaller and lesser-known ski resorts I go to within the winter, I’m arriving within the historic metropolis with little information of the place and an open thoughts.

Once I go to as ski space that I have no idea then I a lot want to view it with none pre-conceptions and take it for what it’s.

This method held me in good stead on the finish of final season:

It’s the similar with Bruges.

I’ve heard of its stunning metropolis centre and its fantastic eating places, however I shall be visiting with my eyes and ears large open and easily going with the circulate.

On first impression it has greater than a passing resemblance to one among our favorite cities within the Alps- Innsbruck in Austria.

Day Two:

Bruges is the capital of West Flanders in northwest Belgium and is the sixth largest metropolis within the nation.

It’s outlined by its canals, cobbled streets and medieval buildings.

Its historical past stretches again to Roman instances, although there are early indicators of human habitation within the Bronze Age.

The centre of the town is a UNESCO World Heritage Web site.

By day it reveals itself in all its glory.

Bruges jogs my memory in so some ways of Innsbruck in Austria – my favorite metropolis within the Alps.

Like Innsbruck it’s steeped in historical past and easily oozes medieval environment and appeal.

Bruges is is aware of as ‘Venice of the North’, and has greater than a passing resemblance to ‘Venice of the Alps’ – Annecy.

Bruges acquired its metropolis constitution on twenty seventh July 1128, and new partitions and canals have been constructed.

It had direct entry to the ocean at the moment and a golden period was set to start, primarily based partially on material, wool and weaving.

It grew to become a centre of commerce and it’s from sea-faring commerce that its increase was primarily based and the town blossomed.

It noticed unseen financial progress and it flip into probably the most influential buying and selling cities in north-west Europe.

French Kings, Italian bankers, ruling households just like the Homes of Burgundy & Habsburg all received in on the motion and left their mark on the town.

It grew to become probably the most highly effective cities in medieval Europe.

Nevertheless by 1500 the Zwin channel, also called the Golden Inlet, that linked it to the ocean grew to become silted up.

Quickly it was to fall behind Antwerp as the principle port of the Low International locations and went into sharp decline.

Within the early sixteenth century it was declared bankrupt as its glory days grew to become a factor of the previous.

For 3 centuries it was a shadow of its former self, the interval is called ‘Bruges La Morte’ (The Lifeless Age of Bruges).

Within the second half of the nineteenth century, Bruges turned itself into one of many world’s first vacationer locations, attracting rich British and French vacationers.

To this present day it depends on tourism.

They arrive for its historical past and tradition.

In World Conflict 1 German forces occupied Bruges and fortuitously it suffered little injury earlier than being liberated in October 1918.

It had the same destiny in World Conflict Two and was occupied by the Germans from 1940,  and once more spared destruction.

On 12 September 1944, it was liberated by Canadian troops.

After 1965, the unique medieval metropolis skilled a ‘renaissance’.

Restorations of residential and industrial constructions, historic monuments, and church buildings generated a surge in tourism and financial exercise within the metropolis centre.

Worldwide tourism boomed and stays so to this present day.

Aside from the historical past and tradition what do most individuals come for?

The Moules:

The Macaroons:

The Beer:

Bruges, Belgium. Picture © PlanetSKI

And let’s not overlook the chocolate, and the waffles.

Plus the odd windmill or two.

Tomorrow the sightseeing correct begins as we take to the canals, climb the 366 steps of the town’s principal bell tower and go to the spectacular City Corridor.

Day Three:

The primary a part of this Belgian weblog had a small quantity to do with snowboarding.

The posts following have completely nothing to do with snowboarding.

All the higher for it, as Bruges is without doubt one of the most fascinating and picturesque cities in northern Europe, and skiers and snowboarders do have wider pursuits in any case.

As we speak is ready to be a full day of vacationer sightseeing, so greatest get began with a Belgian breakfast- caffeine and cake.

Extra in regards to the meals in Bruges later, however suffice to say it’s usually excellent.

We’re going to go to the museums, the church buildings, the towers and take to the water on a canal cruise.

Town is steeped in historical past, as we found by probability only some hundred yards from breakfast.

It could be a resort now, however this constructing was the Royal Palace of England, Scotland and Eire from 1656 till 1659.

Bruges, Belgium. Picture © PlanetSKI

King Charles II held Court docket right here till the restoration of the monarchy.

He cherished Flanders and Bruges specifically.

“The Flemings are essentially the most sincere and true-hearted race of individuals I’ve met with,” he stated in 1662.

Subsequent cease – the Metropolis Corridor.

Development began in 1376, and it was completed in 1421.

It is without doubt one of the oldest within the Low International locations and it’s from this constructing that the town has been ruled for greater than 600 years.

It sits to this present day.

Inside it’s an absolute deal with.

On the bottom ground there are bigger than life work.

Then, on the primary ground, the 14th century Metropolis Corridor itself.

Murals painted within the early twentieth century adorn its partitions and depict the historical past of Bruges.

And don’t overlook to understand the stained glass home windows.

Within the adjoining historic corridor, there’s a everlasting exhibition depicting the essential function performed by the ocean in Bruges’ prosperity.

There’s an an interactive exhibition on the misplaced Zwin ports and it’s a really fascinating hear.

Extremely beneficial by PlanetSKI.

There are some unique artwork and archaeological objects, together with a medieval map of Bruges exhibiting the canals that encompass it, and its hyperlink to the ocean.

The element of the town centre again then is strikingly much like in the present day.

High proper is the 83-metre excessive Belfort (belfry).

It is without doubt one of the three iconic towers of Bruges, along with the towers of Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk (Church of Our Girl), and Sint-Salvatorskathedraal (St Saviour’s Cathedral).

The Belfort is without doubt one of the oldest examples of medieval city and public structure.

It testifies to the late medieval self-consciousness of cities and burghers.

Since 1999, the Belfort, along with 55 different surviving belfries in Belgium and France, has been recognised as a UNESCO world heritage listed constructing.

We’re mountain climbing in St Gervais within the French Alps later this week so a climb up the 366 stairs appeared a good heat up.

On the high are spectacular views of Bruges and the encircling space.

Bruges, Belgium. Picture © PlanetSKI

Bruges, Belgium. Picture © PlanetSKI

Bruges, Belgium. Picture © PlanetSKI

On the best way up you name in on the treasury the place the town stamps, seals, and funds have been saved within the Center Ages.

One ground up you attain the spectacular music turned out by the carillon and from the tower you see the keyboard now used for the carillon bells.

The carillon within the tower has 47 bells.

Bruges, Belgium. Picture © PlanetSKI

Bruges, Belgium. Picture © PlanetSKI

After the tower is was time to return to sea degree, on the canals that intersect the town centre.

€15 for a 35-minute journey.

Bruges, Belgium. Picture © PlanetSKI

Bruges, Belgium. Picture © PlanetSKI

Bruges, Belgium. Picture © PlanetSKI

There are 43 bridges and the oldest one, within the background beneath, is 750 years previous.

Bruges, Belgium. Picture © PlanetSKI

Time simply slips away on the water and, like a go to to The Metropolis Corridor and Belfort, is a ‘must-do’ vacationer exercise when in Bruges.

Bruges, Belgium. Picture © PlanetSKI

Bruges, Belgium. Picture © PlanetSKI

Bruges, Belgium. Picture © PlanetSKI

Now we talked about the meals in Bruges earlier.

It’s out of this world, and largely at an inexpensive worth.

Bruges, Belgium. Picture © PlanetSKI

Bruges, Belgium. Picture © PlanetSKI

Bruges, Belgium. Picture © PlanetSKI

Thanks Bruges, it has been a wonderful and interesting time.

Bruges, Belgium. Picture © PlanetSKI

Subsequent cease, St Gervais within the French Alps for that autumn mountain climbing we talked about.

Up to date:

St Gervais, France. Picture © PlanetSKI

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