Kruispoort, Bruges

Kruispoort or "Cross Gate" is the best preserved among Brugge's medieval gates. It was erected around 1297 when a second city wall was built around the city. At first, there were eight gates that served as entrances to the city of which only four survive today. The present Kruispoort is not the original one but a structure constructed in 1402. In the 1780s, the city walls were demolished as Brugge started expanding. Four of the gates were left intact to give visitors an idea of how heavily fortified Brugge was in the middle ages.

Kruispoort consists of two tall towers connected by an overhead passage. The passage and the towers have windows through which bullets were fired at the enemy. Initially, there were two bridges and a front gate that have disappeared over time. A drawbridge and two large doors were quickly closed as soon as guards could see the enemy approaching. The interior is preserved in its original condition and visitors can see the seats of the guards on each floor. Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, Napoleon, and the German army all entered Brugge through Kruispoort. The gate looks magnificent at night when it is illuminated.

Why You Should Visit:
Kruispoort is very similar to Gentpoort, with Kruispoort being the busier of the two with regards to traffic. Access around the building is much more limited in comparison, but luckily the city has installed what looks like a temporary footbridge for pedestrians to access both sides. There's also a creatively designed footbridge on your way to or from Gentpoort, as well as some interesting art pieces to see along the way. You can also see the four windmills of Brugge (two of which you can enter) before or after seeing Kruispoort. These start just north of the city gate.