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If
you've visited and enjoyed the canal cities of Venice or Amsterdam, three
lesser-known yet incredible canal cities await your further European
explorations. My wife and I were pleased to find that Leiden in Holland, Bruges
in Belgium, and Strasbourg in France were all within a 300-mile circle of
public transportation and easily accessed from Amsterdam or Paris. Each city
provides beautifully unique features and the trio comprises one of our favorite
vacations.
Leiden
Sitting
across two branches of the Old Rhine River, Leiden is off the tourist route but
full of bustle as a university town and favorite destination of the Dutch.
Leiden is best known for its fortress that withstood the 1574 Spanish siege, for
its history as the 1620 departure point for North America's Pilgrims, and for
its native painter, Rembrandt. Today it' s a well-maintained 16th and
17th century town center full of beautiful historic sites,
monuments, and museums. After Amsterdam, it claims the second largest historic
center of the Netherlands.
 
Park Canal with
Windmill; Leiden's Central Canal
We
spent four busy, yet relaxing days in exploration on foot, kayaking the canals,
bicycling through the town and surrounding countryside, and enjoying the
wonderful cafés and restaurants. The kayaking was particularly fascinating,
since most European canal cities do not allow public water access. From the
kayak rental center at Rembrandt Park we were able to fully circle the old town
and reach all six of the major canals. Similarly, the cycling was very
enjoyable due to convenient rentals, the flat landscape, and accessibility to
the North Sea coastline at Katwijk aan Zee.
We
split the walking tour, Leiden Loop, across a two-day span to provide plenty of
time for exploration of the fort and major sites, as well as relaxation at the
many cafés and outdoor markets held along the canals of Oude Rijn and Neuuwe
Rijn streets.
Leiden Steet Scene;
Neuuwe Rijn Street Market
Bruges
The
world is fortunate that Belgium' s medieval trading city of Bruges experienced a
silted harbor in the 16th century, leaving the city unchanged for today's
visitors. The unique Gothic and Renaissance architecture, streets, and canals
sit neatly within a surrounding moat canal. You'll share Bruges with other
tourists, but this is one city where you won' t mind.
Night Scene - Bruges'
Burg
A
three-day visit allowed for fruitful exploration of the car-free
central town and and an interesting boat tour of the canals. We
ambled along the narrow streets leading to the
bustling Markt, the ancient Market Square. Cafés line the square's
fringes, and
the ancient Belfort (belfry tower) awaits ascent of its 366 steps for
an
incredible city view. The 47-bell carillon chimes every quarter-hour,
and
concert pieces are played at scheduled times throughout the week. It's
a short
stroll eastward to the opulent square called Burg where the Count of
Flanders
constructed a castle in the 9th century. Today the square preserves
centuries of architecture: the 12th-century Romanesque Basilica of
the Holy Blood; the Gothic Town Hall (1400s); the Renaissance Recorder's House
(1600s), and the Baroque Provost' s House (1700s). The nearby Groeninge Museum
showcases Flemish primitive art.
Canal Scenes near
Begjinhof and Burg
Bruges
offers great bicycling, and many shops around the Markt provide rentals. We
cycled Bruges' back streets and surrounding countryside, as the perfectly flat
terrain invited leisurely peddling. We visited the Beguinage, an old Bruges
walled quarter where women of the medieval ages lived a life of piety and
service under nuns'care. A ride on the flower-lined paths and along the canals
of Minnewater Park captivated our senses. Then we headed into the Belgium
countryside along a canal to the medieval village of Damme where we enjoyed a
café lunch. We finished the afternoon by cycling to the neighboring small
village of Oostkerke with its ancient cemetery before returning to Bruges.
Bruges Street Scenes
StrasbourgStrasbourg
goes beyond being the capital of France s Alsace region, as it houses the
Parliament building of the European Union. The city is best known for its
sandstone gothic Cathedral of our Lady. The entire city center was declared a
UNESCO World Heritage site for its unique medieval architecture that highlights
its French and German roots. The waterways of the River Ill and the connecting
Petite France canals make the city especially attractive.
Pettite France Canal and Strasbourg Street Market
We
spent three days walking and cycling through the old town and along the river
to Orangerie Park. Lunchtimes were spent in quaint Petite France, where a grand
array of restaurants lined the canal. This quarter well displays its 16th-century
history with half-timbered houses built for the city's tanners, millers, and
fishermen. We visited all the major markets across the city, including the
book-market, flea market, and producer' s market. A major highlight was the
cathedral and our good fortune to have a hotel room on the neighboring square.
Most unforgettable was the boat tour around the old town and extending up the
river past St. Paul' s church to the European Parliament and neighboring
institutions.
Cathedral of Our Lady and Medieval Half-Timbered Estate
Our
multi-day trip to the three closely situated canal cities of Leiden, Bruges,
and Strasbourg surprised us with their accessibility, unique beauty and
history. Experience these great and friendly cities on your next European
vacation.
Reference Web Sites- Leiden
- Bruges
- Strasbourg
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