Bruges Belfry
This wonderfully preserved example of medieval architecture sits in the Market Square of Bruges, a prime viewing location for all the surrounding outdoor restaurants. Buy an overpriced plate of mussels and frites and stare at it all day. Or, pay some Euros and climb to the top. Unfortunately, this is one of those tourist attractions that doesn’t live up to the hype. The view isn’t good enough to justify the excruciating climb. They do have a few artifacts you can look at in some rooms during your climb, but honestly, the pieces aren’t that interesting. Only use these rooms as an excuse for stopping to rest. As in, “Hey honey, let’s stop to look at that tiny statue for an extended period of time! It looks so detailed!” They also have a few benches along the way, but as resting strategies go, sitting on a bench is not nearly as manly as stopping to look at medieval works of art. A better option for a great view of Bruges is at the Half Moon Brewery tour. They have a much less strenuous climb and arguably comparable view of Bruges for about the same price. And they throw in a free pint of beer. Plus, their view is unobstructed by wire mesh, so photographs will look much better and the chance of tetanus is practically nill.
