The splendor of Bruges

Castles around Bruges
Leaving Bruges, you'll soon find yourself cycling through the Bruges hinterland. The landscape features fields with characteristic avenues, mysterious forests, and rolling meadows and fields. This is interspersed with historic farms and ancient castles. You'll cycle past Male Castle, a medieval fortress once home to the Counts of Flanders. A little further on, you'll cycle through the woods of the Ryckevelde estate, where you can admire a neo-Gothic castle.

Velotel Brugge
The route starts and ends at Velotel Brugge, a peaceful retreat from the bustle of the city center. Enjoy a delicious lunch or a gastronomic dinner in true Bruges style in the restaurant. Not finished exploring Bruges yet? Spend a night in the comfortable hotel and enjoy the medieval alleyways and canals, Belgian hospitality, and delicious Bruges chocolate the next day. Route 147908 also departs from Velotel Brugge.

Ghent-Bruges Canal
A large section of the cycle route runs along the banks of the Ghent-Bruges Canal. This is one of the oldest canals in Flanders. The people of Bruges began excavation work in the thirteenth century in an attempt to keep the Zwin channel navigable. They wanted to connect it to the Leie River, but this was met with fierce, sometimes even literal, resistance from the city of Ghent. The cities only reached an agreement in 1604, and the canal was finally opened in 1625. Today, this canal forms not only a blue but also a green ribbon through the surrounding countryside. You'll see sparse grasslands, reed beds, but also thickets of broom and gorse.