The contemporary Bargebrug (Barge Bridge) connects Minnewater Park and Barge Square. The bridge is really eye catching - it is bright red and is asymmetrical in form. Its color is in sharp contrast to the surrounding green parkland. The bridge can be seen as a city entrance, and Barge Square is a popular meeting place for tourists.

The De Vos Almshouse consists of a group of houses for the poor, widows and the elderly. It is one of the 46 almshouses, or Godshuizen, in the center of Bruges.
The De Vos Almshouse was founded by Adriane de Vos, a wealthy and philanthropic merchant of Bruges. It was founded in 1480 and built, at the time, near the city wall and the Beguinage. Each house was assigned by a specific organization, like a hospital or a guild, e.g. the cooper’s or mason’s guild, with a view to benefit their elderly or poor members.
The De Vos Almshouse consisted of a complex of eight houses with an inner courtyard. The residents pumped water from a well in the courtyard and grew vegetables in small gardens in front of their houses. Like all almshouses in Bruges, the De Vos Godshuizen has a chapel where the residents were expected to pray for the soul of their benefactor. The houses have a white façade with the name of Adriane de Vos painted on it. The windows do not face the street because a tax was levied for each street facing window. Today, the city owns the almshouse and has converted the complex into six houses for the residence of elderly citizens. It is managed by the social service department of the government. Visitors are not admitted inside but the quaint complex can be seen over a low wall.

The Church of Our Lady in Brugge dates mainly from the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. Its tower, at 122.3 meters, is the tallest structure in the city and the second tallest brickwork tower in the world (the tallest being the St. Martin's Church in Landshut, Germany). In the choir space behind the high altar are the tombs of Charles the Bold, last Valois Duke of Burgundy, and his daughter, the duchess Mary. The altarpiece of the large chapel enshrines the most celebrated art treasure of the church, a white marble sculpture of Madonna and Child created by Michelangelo around 1504. Probably meant originally for Siena Cathedral, it was purchased in Italy by two Brugean merchants, the brothers Jan and Alexander Mouscron, who donated it to its present home in 1514. The sculpture was twice recovered after being looted by foreign invaders - French revolutionaries circa 1794 and Nazi Germans in 1944.

Brugge is the best preserved city in Flanders. One of the jewels of the Flemish capital is the Provost’s House. It is an amazing Baroque-style white structure built in 1666. Originally, it served as the bishop’s residence and continued so until 1794. It is located in Burg Square and is currently occupied by government offices.

The city of Brugge boasts impressive medieval architecture mixed with some marvelous 19th century buildings. The Provinciaal Hof or Provincial Court is an astonishing Neogothic building. Located in the Grote Markt, it houses the headquarters of the government of West Flanders and the post office.

The Poortersloge or Burgher’s Lodge is a worthy representative of the Gothic architecture of Brugge. It was built at the end of the 14th century and served as a meeting place for the burghers. One can admire its wonderful façade, decorated with figures; one of these is of the legendary bear, Beertje van de Logie, dated to 1417. In the past, banquets and festivities were held here; nowadays, the building holds historic documents.

The Hof Bladelin is a large mansion in Bruges. It is now a convent and home for the elderly with a small museum inside.
The Hof Bladelin was built in 1451 as the house of Pieter Bladelin and his wife, Margaret of Vagewierre. He was the counselor and treasurer of Philip the Good, the Duke of Burgundy. At the time, he was one of the richest men in the area and laid the foundations of a town called Middleburg. The Hof Bladelin was constructed on reclaimed land, located in the northern part of the city. The couple did not have children and the property was inherited by Bladelin’s sister after their death. The Medici’s, a powerful Florentine banking family, bought the house in 1472. Today it accommodates a convent, managed by the order of Sisters of Our Lady of 7 Sorrows that runs an elder care facility in the building.
The Hof Bladelin has the architectural design of a Gothic castle. The Renaissance courtyard was designed in Italian style and added to the building by the Medici family. The stone medallion portraits of Lorenzo de Medici and his wife are still found in the courtyard. The ribbed vaulted ceiling in the interiors has some unique corbels. They are adorned with scenes depicting the duties of Bladelin and the life of St. Alphege of Canterbury.

The Ezelpoort, or Donkey’s Gate, is one of the four remaining medieval city gates of Bruges. Unlike the other gates that were built on the banks of the canal, it is completely surrounded by water.
The Ezelpoort was built with the second set of city walls in 1297. It was reconstructed based on the design of architects, Jan Slabbaerd and Mathias Saghen, authors of two other gates, called the Boeveriepoort and the Smedenpoort. It was also called the Ostendpoort because merchants and travelers used to pass through it on the road to Ostend. The gate has been renovated several times. The most recent restoration took place between 1991 and 1993, for which it was awarded the Europa Nostra Award in 1994.
The lower section of the brick gate is the only surviving part of the original structure. It was completely altered in the 17th century. The height of the original gate was lowered. A guard house was added in the early 18th century and the front gate was demolished in the late 18th century. The two round turrets have a simple façade unlike the other city gates. The administrative office of the Anima Eterna , the resident orchestra of the Concertgebouw is located in the main building and today only pedestrian and bicycle traffic is allowed through the gate.