Page 13 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

GREA T D A Y S IN BRUSSELS , BRUGES , GHENT & ANT WERP  11

especially around the Vismarkt Antwerp: Fashion,
back near the Burg; alter­ New and Old
natively head further west
to nearby Gruuthusestraat, Two adults allow at least €80
Mariastraat and Walplein. • Rubens’ home, the
17th-century seat
Afternoon of fashion
Begin with a restful canal trip; • High art from the age
tours last about 30 minutes and of Rubens
most start from landing stages
near the Burg. Next, walk back • A dynamic museum
along the Dijver canal to Onze of modern fashion
Lieve Vrouwekerk (see p101), • High-class boutiques
one of Bruges’ most attractive
churches. On the other side of
Mariastraat is the Sint-Jan Morning
Hospitaalmuseum (see p103), Start the morning with a
a medieval hospital that is now Het Modepaleis, the principal boutique glimpse of Antwerp’s 17th­
a museum with an array of late of Dries van Noten in Antwerp century golden age at the
medieval paintings by Hans Rubenshuis (see pp124–5).
Memling. From here, take a p113), a superb museum Next, take a short walk, or
short walk to the Gruuthuse tracing the history of interiors, hop on a tram, to see
Museum (see pp102–3) for a furniture and furnishings. You Antwerp’s fine­art collection,
taste of medieval life. could also take a 40­minute currently at the
canal trip from the Korenlei, Museum Aan De
Ghent: Sacred and which gives an insight into Stroom (see p117).
Profane the importance of the Followers of fashion
waterways in the city’s will want to see Ann
Two adults allow at least €80 medieval life. For lunch, Demeulemeester’s
• Jan van Eyck’s there is a good choice of store, which shares
outstanding masterpiece restaurants in the area Leopold de
(see p159). Waelplaats with
• One of Europe’s best
design museums the museum. From
Afternoon here, it is just a
• Cutting-edge modern art Take a tram from the short walk along
Korenmarkt to Charles the river to the
de Kerchovelaan and walk Koninklijk Museum
Morning across the Citadelpark voor Schone
First, make a pilgrimage to Jan to the Stedelijk Detail from The Adoration Kunsten (see
and Hubert van Eyck’s exquisite Museum voor Actuele of theMystic Lamb, Ghent pp122–3), and
panel painting, The Adoration Kunst, or SMAK (see the excellent
of the Mystic Lamb in St Baafs- p115). This great collection of FotoMuseum (see p121).
kathedraal (see p112). Then walk contemporary art is bound to
to the Graslei and Korenlei (see leave an impression. Returning Afternoon
p113), stopping to admire the to the historic centre of the After lunch in one of the
views from the St Michielsbrug town, try an aperitif of jenever pleasant cafés located in
bridge over the canal. Continue gin in one of the bars by the Grote Markt (see pp156–7)
to Design Museum Ghent (see canal or in the Vrijdagmarkt. or the nearby streets, visit
Antwerp’s museum of fashion,
the ModeMuseum or MoMu
(see p120). Nearby is Het
Modepaleis (on Nationalestraat
16), the main outlet of designer
Dries van Noten, and there are
other good fashion­hunting
grounds in the area. To
seek refuge from all this
high­octane fashion, head
for the more stately charms
of Antwerp’s great cathedral,
the Onze Lieve Vrouwe
Kathedraal (see p117) and
back to the old city square,
Korenlei on the bank of the River Leie in Ghent the Grote Markt (see p116).

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