Page 128 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

126  BEL GIUM AND L UXEMBOURG REGION B Y REGION

7 Oostende built in 1811 among the dunes
to the east of the town. To the
30 km (18 miles) W of Bruges.
Road Map A1. * 69,000. ~ £ @ west is the Openluchtmuseum
g v n Monacoplein 2; (059) Atlantikwall, with 2 km (1 mile)
701199. _ Bal du Rat Morte (Sat, early of tunnels, trenches and
Mar). ∑ visitoostende.be defences that show how the
occupying German forces
Set in the middle of the Belgian armed the coast against
coast, Oostende is an attractive, invasion during the World Wars.
modern seaside resort as well
as an active fishing and ferry Environs
port. It was favoured by royalty At Jabekke, 16 km (10 miles)
and the ruling classes in the late southeast of Oostende, the
19th century, and equipped home and studio of Constant
itself with a kursaal (casino) and Permeke, one of St-Martens-
racecourse to complement their Latem School of Art’s leading
elegant villas. Summer holiday- figures, has been made the
makers arrive for the sand Provinciaal Museum Constant
Brick clock tower of the Onze Lieve Vrouw beaches and the seafront Permeke. This exhibits 150 of
Bezoekingskerk, Lissewege promenade, but visitors come the artist’s paintings, drawings
all year round for the seafood. and sculptures.
6 Lissewege Oostende also has a strong
line in art. The Mu.ZEE contains P Ensorhuis
8 km (5 miles) N of Bruges. Vlaanderenstraat 27. Tel (059) 508
Road Map B1. * 2,500. £ @ a good collection of Belgian art 118. Open 10am–noon, 2–5pm
n VVV Lissewege-Bezoekerscentrum, including work by Symbolists Wed–Mon. &
Oude Pastoriestraat 5; (050) 552955. such as Léon Spilliaert, Surrealists
∑ lissewege.be such as Magritte and Delvaux E Mercator Marine Museum
and by Expressionist artists such Mercatordok. Tel (059) 517010. Open
The white, flower-bedecked as Constant Termeke. The artist daily. & ∑ zeilschip-mercator.be
cottages nestling around its most associated with Oostende E Mu.ZEE
church and lining its canal have is James Ensor (see p27). His Romestraat 11. Tel (059) 508118.
earned Lissewege a reputation home, the Ensorhuis, with its ∑ muzee.be
as one of the prettiest villages reconstruction of his aunt’s
in Flanders. The handsome novelty shop explains E Noordzeeaquarium
church, the Onze Lieve Vrouw his influences and vision. Visserskaai. Tel (059) 500876.
Bezoekingskerk, was built The town’s connection Open Apr–Sep: daily; Oct–Mar: Sat,
between 1225 and 1275 in with the sea is reflected in Sun & public holidays. & 7
Scheldt Gothic style, using local the Mercator Marine Museum, P Fort Napoleon
red brick and blue Tournai stone which is located on the three- Vuurtorenweg. Tel (059) 320048.
shipped in via the River Scheldt. masted training ship Mercator Open Apr–Oct: Tue–Sun; Nov–Mar:
Its tower rises to a height of 49 m built in 1932; while what lies Wed–Sun. & 7 0 - =
(162 ft) and offers good views under the North Sea is shown ∑ fortnapoleon.be
over the village and polders. The at the Noordzeeaquarium. E Openluchtmuseum
interior features a striking organ Oostende’s location made it Atlantikwall
and a stunning rood loft and strategically important in war Provinciaal Domein Raversijde,
pulpit dating from 1652. time. Vivid reminders of this Nieuwpoortsesteenweg 636.
In the 12th century, land was are seen at Fort Napoleon, a Tel (059) 702285. Open Apr–Nov. &
donated in Lissewege to the muscular pen tagonal fortress ∑ raversyde.be
Benedictines. Their Ter Doest
abbey – a branch of the Ten
Duinen abbey of Koksijde –
flourished here until 1571,
when it was destroyed by
Protestant rebels. Virtually all
that remains is the medieval
Abbey Barn, located 1 km
(half a mile) south of the village.
This Gothic brick structure
supported by oak beams is set
in peaceful countryside.
P Onze Lieve Vrouw
Bezoekingskerk and Abbey Barn
Open 10am–5pm daily. Displays of the North Sea’s natural treasures at the Noordzeeaquarium
For hotels and restaurants see pp266–7 and pp283–6

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
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Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm