Historic Centre of Brugge Belgium

Historic Centre of Brugge - Belgium

Short Report

Bruges is an excellent example of a medieval historic settlement, which has its historic fabric as it has developed over the centuries, and where original gothic constructions are part of the city identity. As one of the commercial and cultural capitals of Europe, Bruges developed cultural links to different parts of the world. He is closely involved in the school of the Flemish Primitive painting.

Wide Report

The historic town of Bruges is witness over a long period a substantial exchange of influences on the development of the architecture, especially in brick Gothic, as well as promote innovative artistic influences. It is an excellent example of an architectural ensemble, from which important phases in the commercial and cultural areas in the medieval Europe, of which the public, social and religious institutions are a live witnesses. Bruges is spatial and structural organizations remained which are characteristic of the different stages of development, and the historic center is still in the same area as the circumference of the old system. Still an active, living city, yet she has preserved the architectural and urban structures which the various phases of its development: as part of the continuity, the 19th-century renovation of facades that a neo-gothic style, which is in particular for Bruges.

Archaeological excavations have shown evidence of human presence in the area of Bruges from the iron age and the gallo-roman period. It was the military and administrative center of the region and commercial links with Scandinavia started at the same time. The name of Bruges is first mentioned in the 9th century and is recorded in Carolingian coins with the name Bruggia. At this time it was part of a defense system against the Normans, and the first castle was in 851 on the place of the current Bourg. The settlement developed gradually and it was a marina and commercial center with European connections.

The Bruges fair was founded in 1200 and the contacts with Great Britain was the first to develop, in particular in connection with wool. The growing prosperity of the city is reflected in the construction of public buildings, such as the imposing belfry in the Grand'Place and Bruges was quickly if an economic capital of Europe. According to Philippe le Bon (1419-67) Bruges was a center of life, as well as that of the Flemish art, Jan van Eyck, who has contributed to the development of the Flemish Primitive school of painting and exercise an influence on the European art in general. The center for miniature painting was made at the same time, and also to print. As a result of the presence of the Italians it soon became a center of humanism and the Renaissance.

From the late 15th century, Bruges gradually in a period of stagnation. The Flemish regions are included in the Austro-hungarian Empire, and the discovery of America displaced economic interests of the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. However, from 1600 to 1800, as a result of the construction of canals, Bruges again set its maritime connection, if only to a limited extent. From 1815 to 1830 Bruges was part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and since 1830 has been part of Belgium. In the 19th century a colony of English aristocrats influenced the cultural life of the city and has contributed to a renewed interest in the artistic heritage of Bruges and the restoration of historic buildings.

The main squares are the Burg and the Market. For about 1,000 years the Burg has remained the symbol of the alliance of religious and civil authorities, as well as the headquarters of various public institutions, including the dispensing of justice. The Grand'Place, on the other hand, is the site of the halls, the belfry and the Waterhalle, symbolise municipal autonomy. The architecture of Bruges, from the Middle Ages to modern times is mainly characterized by brick Gothic, and in particular by a style known as travée brugeoise . This construction was in the beginning of the 16th century, and with some newer variants was held until the 17th century. It was also the main inspiration for 19th-century restorations.

Historical Data

Archaeological excavations have shown evidence of human presence in the area of Bruges from the iron age and the gallo-roman period. In the 8th century, Bruges was described as 'municipium, either Frandrense, the seat of the Pagus Frandrensis and the residence of the Merovingian tombs. It was the military and administrative center of the region and commercial links with Scandinavia started at the same time. The name of Bruges is first mentioned in the 9th century and is recorded in Carolingian coins with the name Bruggia. In this period it was part of a defense system against the Normans, and the first castle was in 851 on the location of the current Bourg. The settlement developed gradually and it was a marina and commercial center with European connections. The first walls were built in 1127: the traces of this still to be read in the canals of the city center. A sea canal was dug up to Bruges to facilitate navigation, strengthen the maritime role, which lasted until the 15th century, with Van Damme, Hoeke and Monnikenrede if transition sites.

From 1200 to 1400 Bruges was the economic capital of Europe north of the Alps. The Bruges fair was founded in 1200 and the contacts with Great Britain was the first to develop, in particular in connection with wool. This was followed by other regions - northern Europe, the German countries, and the Mediterranean Sea. The growing prosperity of the city is reflected in the construction of public buildings, such as the imposing belfry in the Grand-Place , and Bruges was quickly if an economic capital of Europe. The palace of the van Buerse family was the monetary center, indicating the name of the concept of the Stock Exchange). After its growth the city developed a series of social institutions of the 14th century, including the Saint-Jean Hospital and the typical small god'S Houses (Hôtels-Dieu) and healthcare facilities. The Gothic town hall of 1376 remains the oldest in the Low Countries.

From 1384 to 1500 Bruges enjoyed the Golden Age under the Dukes of Burgundy. According to Philippe le Bon (1419-67) with particular Bruges was a center of life, as well as that of Flemish art, Jan van Eyck, which has contributed to the development of the Flemish Primitive school of painting and exercise an influence on the European art in general. Other painters such as Petrus Christ, Hans Memling, Gerard David, and many people who remained anonymous. While Bruges was the center for miniature painting, and also for printing quickly after Gutenberg: it was responsible for the first books in French and English. As a result of the presence of the Italians Bruges quickly became a center of humanism and the Renaissance. Activity continued and Bruges was supplied by a series of noble palaces and religious ensemble of large prestige.

From the late 15th century, Bruges gradually in a period of stagnation. The Flemish regions are included in the Austro-hungarian Empire, and the discovery of America displaced economic interests of the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. Bruges remained dealing with the textile industry and retained its Spanish connections, but its role in maritime trade was soon replaced by that of Antwerp. Yet it remained active in the international monetary market and remained as a center of humanism; Erasmus was called 'the new Athens' and Thomas More wrote Utopia. The medieval Gothic architectural remained the common reference framework and is absorbed in a typical Bruges style.

From 1600 to 1800, as a result of the construction of canals, Bruges again its maritime connection, but only on a modest level. Building activities continued, however, and a prohibition of 1616 on the use of wood in construction facades led to renovation of more substantial materials. The people of Bruges remained relatively small by this period and the need to also outside the medieval city walls arose only much later. The influence of the counter-Reformation was strong in Bruges, resulting in a series of religious ensemble. At the end of the 18th century the Austro-hungarian Emperor Joseph II ordered the demolition of 'useless' monasteries, and others were destroyed as a result of the French Revolution, such as the cathedral of Saint- Mr Donatien.

From 1815 to 1830 Bruges was part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and since 1830 has been part of Belgium. The train to Bruges in 1834, making a number of changes in the urban structure. From 1854, the municipal administration prepared plans for urban transformations in the spirit of Haussmann, but only one of these was carried out, in the field of the new theater, where the medieval structure was destroyed. In the 19th century a colony of English aristocrats influenced the cultural life of the city and has contributed to a renewed interest in the artistic heritage of Bruges and the restoration of historic buildings, including the establishment of the Societe d'Emulation pour l'histoire et les antiquités la Flandre Occidentale. Some of the restoration was quite large, allowing the building of copies of lost historical buildings. While tourism is a new interest in the old town. A part of the damage is caused during the two World Wars, but as a whole, but the historic city has survived. From 1968 policy aimed at the conservation of the old town, with the result the creation of the Service de la Conservation et de la It more and the first urban structure plan.

Source:whc/unesco