Around Romantic Bruges

Belgium Bike Tour

On this tour, you are provided with a roadbook offering details on four fantastic tours. The route itself is well marked using a number system which also corresponds with the numbers on the roadbook. Highlights of these tours include the castles around Torhout and Wijnendaele, the picturesque villages of Damme and Lissewage and the seaside towns of Knokke and De Haan. You will also enjoy the parks and nature around Bulskampveld. Bruges offers so much more than just cycling. Called the "Venice of the North", it is one of Belgium's crown jewels. In no other European city is the feel and the look of medieval times so present as here in this city close to the North Sea. As well as the rich architecture of churches, abbeys, castles and windmills, this little medieval city boasts canals, chocolate shops, museums and carriages. Soak up the atmosphere in one of the many cafés and restaurants (there are 350 different kinds of beer to savor). Whether you enjoy art, fine cuisine, shopping or the countryside, Bruges has something for everyone.

Tour Dates

• Arrivals possible any day except for the following dates:
• January 20 - 30, 2012
• March 5 - 12, 2012 *
• June 20 - June 29, 2012
• July 30 - August 3, 2012
• September 30 - October 3, 2012*
• November 12 - November 23, 2012
• December 23 - December 28, 2012*
• *Bookings might be possible. Please ask us!

Where You’ll Stay

Very nice 3 star hotel (Hotel Fevery) or 4 star (B & B Bariseele) featuring suites, one with a private entrance.

What’s Included

• 5 days/4 nights accommodations
• 4 x Breakfast buffet
• Coffee and tea from 3 - 6 pm
• Complimentary drink at B and B (minimum stay of 3 nights)
• Map, tour description, and tourism information.
• 7 speed hybrid bicycle (three day rental)

What’s Not Included

• Individual arrival to Bruges
• Remaining meals

Skill Level

Easy, self-guided, hotel-based tour on quiet roads and also on the European cycle route network (EuroVelo). Days can easily be shortened using the sign post system.

Day-To-Day Itinerary

This is a 5 day, hotel based tour. There are 4 fantastic cycle tours to choose from making use of the easy to navigate cycle route network around Bruges.

• Tour 1: Land of the Counts, forest of Bulskamp, 42 mi. (67 km)
• Tour 2: Damme, beach, over the border and back, 39 mi.  (63 km)
• Tour 3: Castle Hunt, 36 mi. (57 km)
• Tour 4: Polders and picturesque villages, 42 mi. (69 km)

Here is a suggested itinerary but you can decide your own itinerary from the routes provided. For example you might want to incorporate a rest day or to organize the order of your days differently. You can even shorten your days to accommodate young children

DAY 1 : Land of the Counts, forest of Bulskamp, 42 mi. (67 km)
Perhaps this day could be used as a day to familiarize yourself with your bike and to explore the parks and nature reserve area around Bulskampveld Castle near Beernem. The scenery and beauty surrounding the area of the castle served as a source of inspiration for its design. Leaving Bruges through the green suburb of Assebroek into the historic land of the counts of Flanders to Maldegem, you will  pass the East Flanders border.  You make your way back to Bruges along the canal Ghent – Brugge and its national park of the Zuidleie with wonderful orchids in spring.

 DAY 2 : Damme, beach, over the border and back, 39 mi.  (63 km)
Today you could enjoy a route alongside canals through the picturesque village of Damme and on to the town of Knokke at the seaside. Due to its rich history and many things worth seeing, Damme is a popular tourist center. Popular, but fortunately not too crowded. Damme is renowned for its cuisine and lately has come to be known for the place to buy old (and new) books. Afterward, you cycle along the Napoleon canal towards the Siphon and North to Duinbergen and the posh city of Knokke, on to  the beach to the National park ‘t Zwin with its Storck colony, over the border to Sluis and back along the canal to Brugge. The town of Sluis was almost completely destroyed in 1944 and the Dutch rebuilt the city. Sluis too is known for its cuisine.

 DAY 3 : Castle hunt,  36 mi. ( 57 km)
This tour heads south towards the Tillegem forest and Castle and the Wijnendale Castle. These castles are both surrounded by water and in a wonderful setting. During your trip you will see many beautiful houses You return by passing Beisbroek forest and castle with Planetarium and nature education center and Tudor Castle with herb garden.

 DAY  4 : Polders and picturesque villages, 42 mi. (69 km)
This ride will take you through the picturesque village of Lissewage and the beautiful seaside towns of De Haan and Blankenberge, cycling between the sea and the dunes. Time in Lissewege seems to move a bit slower than elsewhere. With its picturesque canal, whitewashed polder houses and extensive fields and meadows, this polder village is a classic example of how every Flemish village once looked: lively, charming and a touch nostalgic. A visit to De Haan is like a return to the 'Belle Epoque' of the turn of the century. The name De Haan means literally 'The Rooster'. According to a legend the village got this name because a rooster rescued a group of stranded fishermen. His crowing guided them to this safe place. Legends aside, De Haan is small, but beautiful. Its most famous resident was Albert Einstein, who lived there for six months in 1933 after leaving Nazi Germany.

DAY 5: Departure from Bruges
You might decide to stay an extra day or two to explore Bruges even more. Bruges incredibly well-preserved medieval architecture makes it one of the most exciting tourist attractions in Europe. Besides architecture, sites to see include several museums. First is the Groeninge Museum, with six centuries of paintings from different styles, including works by Jan van Eyck, a Flemish Primitive painter. The Memling museum is also not to be missed, with the wooden Shrine of St. Ursula. Also, the only work of art by Michelangelo to leave Italy during his lifetime, can be seen in the Church of our Lady. Of course a visit to Bruges wouldn’t be complete without a canal or carriage ride, sampling the chocolates and waffles, shopping for craft work including Bruges famous lace, visiting art galleries, climbing the belfry or trying several of the more than 350 available Belgian beers.

Book This Trip

Questions? Call us! 877-965-2064 or e-mail us