*Bruges*: Liberty of Bruges & City Hall

Welcome to the Palace of the Liberty of Bruges (or the Brugse Vrije), a building that has witnessed hundreds of years of history. If the Palace’s interior reminds you of a courtroom, you’re not wrong—this was the courtroom of the old Bruges courthouse. From the late 18th century until 1984, this was the seat of the Bruges court of justice. Today, the municipal archives of Bruges are housed here. But the primary objective of this visit is to familiarize you with the Liberty of Bruges and its administration, which was centered here from the 1400s to the 18th century. What the responsibilities of this administrative body were, and exactly what the Liberty of Bruges was, will all be revealed on this tour.

And continue your tour at Bruges City Hall. This is the beating administrative heart of the city, and has been for over six hundred years. This is where the municipal council meets, and it also houses the offices of the mayor and various municipal services. Upstairs in the impressive Gothic Hall, the people of Bruges get married and the mayor receives VIP guests. On this tour, we will visit the magnificent Gothic Hall on the first floor as well as the History Room.