This city hall was over 600 years old and in open for public visits…read more Most of the first floor was freely accessible. A small gift shop and ticket counter was to the left after entering. After paying admission or scanning the Brugge Museum Card, all backpacks or large bags had to be stored in the free lockers behind the ticket desk before heading to the second floor. The main attraction was the Gothic room which was very ornate with epic paintings of Brugge history that wrapped around all four walls. Worth following along with the explanation placards (available at the entrance). A side room contained a VR map that traced the evolution of Brugge over time. Headphones needed to be set to your preferred language by the staff. After seeing the gothic room then head next door to the Renaissance Room (if it's open) or to the Basilica of the Holy Blood.

City Hall from 1376 in the Burg Square next to the Markt. There were benches & some greenery in…read morethis square. This is where locals get permits & licenses today. The beautiful square was filled with restaurants & shops.

Tucked away slightly out of the centre of St Omer, its cathedral is one of the most impressive…read moremediaeval monuments in the Pas-de-Calais region. Fortunately largely spared the ravages of the Two World Wars which devastated much of the area, it is an excellent example of the flamboyant style of gothic architecture of the 13th, 14th and early 15th centuries. The substantial, square tower (15th-16th century) is reminiscent of perpendicular gothic towers in England, such was the cross-over of architectural styles in the period. A 12th century octagonal tower also survives from an earlier building. Despite the length it took to construct, the overall effect is remarkably harmonious and uniform, in part because of the use of the distinctive local white limestone. The church is also well-known for its sculpture and furnishings. The highlight is the 'Descent from the Cross' by Rubens, but it also has a working astrological clock from 1558, some stained glass from the 15th century, the tomb effigy of Saint Omer himself (13th century) and interestingly, a statue of God from Therouanne, dated to around the 13th century: his strange proportions reflect the original intention to place it 60ft from the ground. Both south and west doors have interesting decorative sculptures, including a 13th century Doom on the south door. The church is currently undergoing restoration, following severe damage during a storm in January 2007, which brought down a substantial number of pinnacles from the tower. The interior is nevertheless open.

Bruges is just an amazingly impressive old town. Even though big in size at first glance, it's very…read moreeasy to walk and to get around. Most of it is pretty flat, so also suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. Just be aware that some cobbled streets might make it a bit more difficult It's hard to describe what to see and what to do. Your options are endless and one day will not be enough. Just to see to historic center takes more than a day. And that's without visiting museums or taking a little river/canal cruise. Maybe plan the big must-do's. And after that ... or during ... it's just fun to stroll around and get lost in the streets and lanes of Bruges. Some of the sights you really should check out: - Belfort Tower - Markt / Marktplatz - Brugse Vrije - Stadhuis Brugge - Basiliek van het Heilig Bloed - De Burg Square - Huidenvettersplein - Nepomucenusbrug - Meebrug - Sint-Salvatorskathedraal - Bonifazius Bridge - Zuidzandstraat - Dijver - Rozenhoedkaai - Steenstraat - Sint-Amandsstraat And that's just to cover the biggest and most famous sights and streets. Belgian Waffles and chocolate. Give them a try. Surely a must-do. We sampled some. But sadly weren't convinced much. Nothing beats Swiss chocolate. An amazing old town. We really enjoyed it. One of the most pretty historic old towns we know. And we've seen many. Bruges. Really a place you must see at least once in your life. We love it and will be back one day.

All I can say is that this happens to be one of those secrets hidden away in the French countryside…read morethat you really need to know about to visit. Basically it is a former Nazi bunker where they would assemble and launch V1 and V2 rockets (though they never actually got around to using the base and when the allies captured it the bunker was unfinished). The museum is actually a science and technology museum, though the bunker itself is actually dedicated to war technology, and the dome focuses entirely on World War II. The dome has displays that look at Von Braum, the developer of the rockets, but also the French Resistance and the Holocaust. It is definite must for World War II enthusiasts.

War museums tend not to be my cup of tea. I find the traditional museum set up rather at odds with…read morewhat I think one should be seeking to achieve with such a place, the static, glass-cased exhibits being too far removed from their settings to mean much. Large boards with written information rarely hold my attention sufficiently for me to be able to put the exhibit in place. La Coupole is very, very different. La Coupole is a site of immense interest. A launching site for the huge V2 rockets used by the Germans during World War 2, this site serves both as a museum, a shrine and a lesson to us all. The first thing that hits you when you arrive at La Coupole is quiet and a sense of foreboding. Standing in a chalk quarry and looking up through a vast, hollowed-out hillside capped with a concrete dome you then realize the size of this project. The main buildings are left just as they were left in 1944. There are more modern buildings scattered around the perimeter but these just serve to make the main attraction that much more austere. The entrance to the main area is through a long concrete tunnel through which the V2 bombs would have been brought on rail tracks. Alcoves to the sides of the tunnel provided hiding places for the manufactured shells. There's a concentration camp train stationed just outside the entrance and this provides a real sense of discomfort. This is Hell only you know, deep down, that you'll walk out again. The museum element of the attraction is, to my mind, superb. A reconstructed (full-scale) V2 stops you in your tracks. It shouts evil from its very being. The museum leads you through the development and workings of the V2s and how the site worked. It then moves through time, showing how the V2 and other nation's variations contributed to the newer intercontinental missiles that were developed and then eventually onto space. It's hard to think, coming out of such an evil, austere setting and invention, that the space race was facilitated by the very same technology. One can guide oneself around the site, with information boards available in both French and German. Alternatively free multi-lingual audio guides are available which were excellent. Films were also being shown with English commentary.

Since it carries the name Bourse it suggests that this used to the the former stock exchange,…read morethough considering that were are now in France I would have thought that the Stock Exchange would have been located in Paris. However, what this place actually is is a market place, and when we wandered through here on Sunday discovered that all of the regional booksellers had descended upon the town to begin selling their wares. Basically you could find quite a number of second-hand French books as well as numerous posters and other things (such as records). There are also a number of shops around the outside that are basically regular shops, but if you are looking for a bargain then definitely step inside and have a bit of a look around.

A brilliant building to check out in the middle of Lille. Inside there is also a book market and…read moresome art works sold which is quite a wonderful use of space in the Old Stock Exchange!

Built in 1910 this bridge looks much older than it is because of the style of architecture. If you…read moreare walking south of the old Burg square towards the Church of our Lady, walk along the Djiver Canal. You will cross between Arentshof and Gruuthuse. Sitting on top of the bridge maybe one of the most pictureque views of Brugge. Seek it out when it's not crowded. It is one of the most tranquil places in the city with the cathedral as your backdrop and the canal below you.

This "Lovers Bridge" is picturesque, romantic and definitely worth searching out. Set near the…read moreGroeningmuseum and Church of Our lady it is a photographer's dream as it sits over a canal. Try to get there around dusk or early in the morning as the daytime brings lovers to not just steal a kiss but that perfect selfie or photo. Try to linger if you can and you can feel yourself delving back into a more romantic time. Despite the many people trying to get their selfies, it is not hokey at all but a true gem of a view and spot to sit and listen to the quiet of the canal once the tour boats have stopped speeding by. Romatically lit by the moon and little else, a sense of calm and detachment from the world will come over you as you ponder how lucky you are to be there with your significant other.