Bruges – Belgian pearl of medieval architecture. Here the market place “Markt”

For me as a Lübeck-native, a visit to the Belgian city of Bruges is like a déjà vu. Only that my hometown can not keep up with this collection of picturesque patrician houses, baroque city palaces and classical façades. Walking through Bruges’ old town, the many canals and bridges are reminiscent of Amsterdam. You can feel it in every corner of Bruges, that this architectural jewel was one of the most successful commercial cities from the 13th to the 15th century and it impresses me in which historical homogeneity the city still presents itself seven centuries later.

Bruges was never destroyed by wars or large-scale fires, which is why the famous historic center – since 2002 Unesco World Heritage Site – has been preserved

To get in the mood for my visit to Bruges, I watched the US film “In Bruges” with Colin Farrell and asked myself how they kept away the tourist crowds during filming. I was warned by my Belgian friend Winny: “Yes, it is always crowded in Bruges. Nevertheless, you should have been there once.” Maybe not on a weekend and certainly not when 20,000 football fans storm the city and celebrate the championship title of their club FC Bruges at the market in the old town. Day tourists flood the historic walls in every season from no later than 11 am and roll through the narrow streets of this picturesque village in West Flanders. Those who want to escape the crowds during the day simply walk beyond the respective squares such as “Markt” and “Burg” and suddenly find themselves in quiet residential areas or in greened patios. A break is also offered by the Beguinage, which is indeed a sightseeing highlight, however in which groups have no access.

Fancy a break? The Beguinage is a green oasis of peace, but in the center of the city

Culinary, Bruges has adjusted to the tourists: around the market, castle and other “places to see” there are many restaurants, unfortunately not always good, and often with overpriced food. And although I know, you should spare mussels in months without the letter “r”, I ordered Moules Frites. The Belgian specialty is offered here all year round, is frozen foods and of doubtful quality. My tip: have lunch or dinner at one of the many Michelin and Gault Millau restaurants, many of which offer comparatively affordable lunch menus. Or one discovers the locals’ spots beyond the tourist paths, such as the café “Sanseveria” in the Predikherenstraat.

Discover the locals’ spots beyond the tourist paths, such as the “Sanseveria” in the Predikherenstraat: The hip side of medieval Bruges

When the night comes over Bruges, the day tourists have left again, and the city and its inhabitants sigh recognizably. The old town dives into a special light, which effectively stages the old walls. Just around the corner from my hotel Prinsenhof lies the gourmet restaurant Guillaume. I enjoy a delicious menu and a super nice service. On the way to the hotel I experience the now deserted streets of Bruges by moonlight. Pure romance! A feeling that would hardly have come up a few hours earlier.  BvH

Bruges at night

Triennale Bruges

Art installation by Studio KCA at Jan van Eyck place

Attention, art fans: Until September 16, the Triennale Art Exhibition in Bruges awaits with 15 – partly accessible – works and installations that are spread over the entire Old Town. Central theme: Liquid Society highlights the implications of ever-changing interpersonal relationships. Art and city can thus be jointly explored by a tour.

Below the blue whale, the gourmet restaurant Spinola has built up its kitchen. Art enjoyment from close proximity

Speaking of enjoyment: This café on the Biskajersplein square is only available during the Triennale

Stretching towards the sky: Sculpture Lanchals – long necks – by John Powers reminiscent of a gooseneck

Temporary bridge installation by Jaroslaw Kozakiewicz

Want to cool down? From the pink plastic pavilion of the Spanish architect Selgascano you can dare to jump into the canal

Urban Model Belgian artist Wesley Meuris called his triennial contribution to architecture and urban life

Minne Floating School by Kunlé Adeyemi: A kind of floating school, dealing with climate change and an incentive to create renewable energy

Planning is everything: What is where at the Triennale Bruges 2018?

Where to bed in Bruges

There are some promising boutique hotels in Bruges such as the Van Cleef, Hotel Die Swaene or the Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce. The Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce is beautifully decorated (I love the Belgian interior with its soft colors) and is right by the canal. With its historic façade, it is one of the most photographed spots in the city. An aspect that causes some unrest. I decide for the Prinsenhof, which is within walking distance of three minutes from the market in a quiet side street.

Boutique Hotel Die Swaene

The Hotel Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce is right by the canal…

…and beautifully decorated. I love the Belgian interior with its soft colors

Rozenhoedkaai: one of the most photographed spots in the city. What a terrific view!

Hotel Prinsenhof…

…with its pretty lobby and Delft tiles surrounding the fireplace

My spacious room is decorated with beautiful fabrics and equipped with a separate toilet. The service is professionally friendly, but unfortunately not cordial

Bruges and Culinary

I let myself be spoiled in the star restaurant Guillaume. The gourmet restaurant Guillaume in Korte Lane is located in an old cottage. From the outside it seems almost a bit unspectacular, so we almost passed it. I opt for the three-course menu “Crazy Creations” for 52 euros: Amuse Gueule from reinterpreted Vitello tonato, roast beef and pike-perch. As a starter: lobster, Fois Grois, Iberico ham and exotic fruits. Followed by guinea fowl with roasted diced tomatoes and a raspberry slice for dessert. We renounce the wine and choose the Rosé Luberon from Provence, 32 euros a bottle.

I let myself be spoiled in the star restaurant Guillaume

As a starter: lobster, Fois Grois, Iberico ham and exotic fruits…yummy!

At the Aux Merveilleux at “Eiermarkt” place you not only enjoy the view to an imposing chandelier …

…but also a delicious breakfast with oven-warm bread and croissants

Welcome to chocolate paradise: Belgium’s chocolate is legendary, but there are also qualitative differences here. Therefore, not every truffle praline offered on the Wollestraat in umpteen side-by-side laying confectioneries, is of superior quality…

…A feast for the eyes: The chocolate mountains tower up high

The Assiette Blanche restaurant is cozy with its wood paneling. A lunch menu is served for 37€:

After the Amuse-Gueule – Anchovy and Parmesan-stuffed Macaron – a deep-fried sole with lettuce and aioli is served…

…followed by grilled hip of lamb with blanched and pureed carrots and wildflowers

Dessert: Rhubarb and strawberries with meringue and vanilla ice cream. A glass of open white wine from the Macon is offered for 7 euros. The service is excellent and especially friendly

Lovely Bruges

Passage to “Burg” place

Richly designed facades on the houses around “Burg” place

Here the town hall

Lush Baroque, wherever you look

Long waits and queues in front of the boat launchers for a ride on the canals of Bruges. Tip: Boots take a half-hour trip to neighboring Damme three times a day, the formerly important trading city. Previous reservation required

Beautiful architecture in “Kortewinkel” street as here the bar Groot Vlaenderen

…with impressive door details

…and again …

…and an imposing private door portal

Above the rooftops of Bruges

Impressive I find the roof structures with the winding chimneys and playful towers. What a splendor!

Does Harry Potter live here?

It’s best to always keep your eyes turned upwards so that nothing escapes you

…such as this magnificent house facade

I love the Belgian style with the pale red clinker and the darkened door and window frames. Sooo noble!

Places of silence

Yes, they exist, the tranquil places of peace and silence in Bruges

…like this delightful red-clinker cottage located right by the canal

Meeting point for the ducks and swans of Bruges to the opposite of the Beguinage

Tower with a view and beautiful shutters

The enchanted garden paradise in the middle of the city of Bruges and directly by the water: more is not possible

Idyllic street café Terrastje

Only a few cobblestone streets away from the Bruges hustle and bustle, you enter a quiet residential area that reminds a little of London with its bay windows and front yards

And of course, windmills are as much a part of Bruges as the old rampart along the canals, on which they were once built

Info Triennale Bruges

triennalebrugge.be

More travel tips you find here!

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The Outdoor pool of Bleiche Resort & Spa in the winter time. Of course heated…

One and a half hours drive from Berlin, lies the Hotel Bleiche Resort & Spa in Brandenburg Spreewald. Here the outdoor pool in summer

To encapsulate right away: with this story I’m neither looking for the not yet found hair in the soup, nor am I the investigative journalist finding something previously undiscovered. This text is my personal homage to a place and its landscape, which has grown on me over the years and my many visits: the Hotel ‘Bleiche Resort & Spa’ and the Brandenburg Spreewald.

The Bleiche is always decorated according to the season …

… here the ‘Grünes Gewölbe’-Restaurant in Christmas decoration

Every time the rumble of wooden planks wakes me up when passing the driveway to the hotel grounds and the red-white boarded wooden facade in front of me opens, when I walk into the hotel lobby and hear the splashing of the fountain, then I know: I have arrived. My Berlin-stress I leave at the front desk, am grateful to not have to fill in any incredibly long forms, or being asked for either a credit card or if I had a “pleasant journey”.
“It’s great you’re here.” Here, I don’t have to do anything. Here I simply am.

Arrival: In the lobby of the Hotel Bleiche Resort & Spa it ripples from the impressive fountain

By now, I’ve got my little rituals, which I sometimes pursue more, sometimes less: I let myself drift, I let go, enjoy the sweet idleness. Sometimes I swim my laps in the outdoor pool before breakfast; usually I sleep till all hours. The breakfast in the ,Grünem Gewölbe’ (‘green vault’), I am celebrating extensively with seven minute egg and morning tea ‘Morgentau’. Even at 12 noon that is still possible here. I read the newspaper (which I ‘m rarely able to do at home), which I can find by my bedroom door every morning.

Here I’m having breakfast in the ‘Grünes Gewölbe’ (Green Vault):

I love morning tea ‘Morgentau’, seven minute egg, whole wheat bread, croissants, cheese, melon and – believe it or not – Spreewaldgurke (‘Spreewald cucumber’)

One look into the eyes of my two four-legged travelling companions and it’s decided: Off it goes into the nature, past fields and canals. The network of adjacent trails can also wonderfully be explored by biking or jogging. When it rains, I confine my outdoor activities into the hotel’s private, 17-hectare park, in which my doggies have already chased one or two balls. Then I limber up with some tea and homemade cakes, discover an interesting book title in the well-stocked book shop or exceptionally check out my mails, which is only possible in this one area, because there’s no Wi-Fi in the rooms.

Regulars Willi and Franz in the provided baskets. Here one also takes lovingly care of the four-legged guests

Then I slip into the bathrobe and keep wearing it for the time being. Here, everyone is the same wearing the bathrobes, whether they’re called Heike Makatsch, Model Eva Padberg or German actor Matthias Schweighöfer. My range of motion involved the route room – spa – room. By the way: with 5,000 square meters it is one of the largest spas in Europe. In my opinion, it’s also one of the finest.

Swiming, while watching the crackling fire in the fireplace – where do you find something comparable?

Many spas reduce their appearance on the mere expediency, as if the applications were processed like illness certificates: indoor swimming pools with tiles up to the stop and above all a pungent smell of chlorine. In the Bleiche, it scents like fireplaces, like lumbers, herbs and apples. A treat for my nose, used to capital odors. Apart from this, there are plenty of chairs, cozy sofas, inviting sitting areas with comfortable wicker chairs, in which I do like to sink into, because a sauna, massages and Haman are well known to be quite tiring. My favorite room? Clearly and absolutely unrivaled: The ,Kräuterkammer’ (‘herbal chamber’), a around 45 degrees tempered sauna, very cozy like a mountain lodge. How many hours have I probably already spent here?

The ,Kräuterkammer’ (‘herbal chamber’), a around 45 degrees tempered sauna in the wellness area, very cozy like a mountain lodge

I lie and listen. Sometimes to the sounds of classical music – in the large indoor swimming pool also under water – sometimes the chirping of crickets, the inhabitants of ancient timbers. For me, this is the most beautiful way of meditation, even though it is also offered here professionally: With or without singing bowl. Speaking of lying: On the big screen of the professionally equipped cinema, there run three movies daily, many that I always wanted to see before. Here I finally get the opportunity in XXL wide loungers.

Wherever I go, inviting sitting areas always await

The decor is right up my alley: sophisticated country-house style, using French linen, rough wood and roughly plastered cob walls, combined with selected antiques and a pleasant lighting concept. It’s the passion for detail that I like so much and this is actually what’s the real secret of the Bleiche. Here and there are a couple of candlesticks, vases and stacks of books. All wisely collected in legwork and over the years by the Bleiche-owners – the Clausing family.

Traditional decoration ‘Herrgottswinkel’ in the cheese chamber

In the evening I preferably sit in the cozy ,Fischerstube’ (‘Fishers parlor’) or in the quaint ,Kahnschuppen’ (‘fishing boat shed’) – in the summer it’s also nice in beer garden under the old chestnut trees. Gourmets get indulged in star restaurant ,17fuffzig’. The food is delicious – I have never been disappointed. I love the Mosel Riesling from the winery ‘Kallfelz’ and especially a regional goat’s cheese at the end, which the rustic cheese chamber holds behind its doors. Maybe I treat myself with a nightcap at the bar. Maybe I’m still sitting at the large fireplace, looking into the fire and imagining how the linen fabrics for the ‘Old Fritz’* were bleached here more than 260 years ago. BvH
*nickname of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia

Here I can spend hours looking into the fire – and it never gets boring to me in any way

Tip:

Especially in fall or winter a boat trip is an experience, as you mainly have the channels for yourself and the pasture- and moorlands of the Spreewald are worth a look at – even in the cold season. Ask for Hagen, he is the best tour guide and knows all secrets and things to know.

Fancy a boat trip? The hotel’s boat harbor offers individual journeys – also during the winter season

Christmas Decor at Bleiche Resort & Spa

Summer impressions

In the beer garden, one can wonderfully sit under old chestnut trees

From the herb bed directly into the pot: Star chef René Klages gets his ingredients from the hotel’s herb garden

The secret of the Bleiche is the love for detail

In the book shop of the Bleiche, I love to rummage through the current book titles and make readable discoveries

Almost like home

Beautiful interior: One of the cottage suites with a private sauna, separate bedroom and living area

The beds are especially comfortable and cozy

Relaxing in the bathtub with a glass of Prosecco and candlelight – Good as it gets

Bye, bye, stress!

Me in bathrobe-mood in front of the fireplace by the indoor pool

The Whirlpool

A seperate bath and wading area for families with children

You simply do not want to leave

One out of eight restaurants: The ‘Weißbiereck’. Comfortable, right?

For cheese lovers this is the culinary paradise at Hotel Bleiche Resort & Spa: The cheese chamber

On a night cap at the bar …

… or again to the fireplace? The cozy atmosphere ensures a great feel-good factor

Contact Bleiche Resort & Spa:

Bleiche Resort & Spa
Bleichestraße 16
03096 Burg im Spreewald, Germany

www.bleiche.de

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IBIZA LOVE Series

Bougainvillea everywhere: The Hotel Atzaró in Ibiza Island

I am often asked, what is the best place to stay on Ibiza? To be honest – I have no answer to this. There are just too many great places on this fabulous island. Let me put it that way: The choice of accommodation depends largely on what you want to do on Ibiza. Party animals better choose a hotel in Ibiza town, such as the ‘Ocean Drive’ in Ibizas Marina Botafoc, which I recently introduced in MyStylery’s series IBIZA LOVE. Or you book a room with a view (to the pool side, where things are happening!) at the Hotel ‘Ushuaia Tower’. For those of you who prefer a more quiet, relaxed vacation there is only one place to stay: The „Atzaro Agroturismo“ in the heart of the Island.

View to the large pool and the Asian-inspired spa

Don’t let the word „Agroturismo“ confuse you. It stands for ecological correct tourism – in a very modern sense. No Birkenstocks or jute bags. On the contrary, the Atzaró is a luxurious, gorgeous complex in the middle of a romantic orange grove with several pools, a very good Spa – including Moroccan Haman – and an excellent gourmet restaurant, where organic balanced meals are prepared mainly with ingredients from the hotel’s garden.

The hotel lobby with fireplace

The country hotel, which was built in the Ibizan finca style, also offers meditation, yoga and Qigong in a beautiful Balinese pavilion. Here everyone can find peace and ideally to himself. Bougainvillea frame the Balinese daybeds and wrap the entire Atzaró in a heady scent.

Here the romance factor is extremely high, no wonder that the Atzaró is very popular amongst wedding couples

None of the Ibizan styled rooms with an Asian touch are alike. Some of them offer a private garden, an own terrace or a fireplace. You will love the warmth of the open fire especially on cool evenings, since the Atzaró recently welcomes guests all year and the winter temperatures cool down noticeably.

Snuggling by the fire – how cozy!

What I like best about the Atzaró, are the various daybeds and sitting areas that invite anywhere on the hotel grounds for dozing and relaxing. Here I let myself fall into the lush cushions landscape and and just dream the day away. BvH

Feasting under starlit sky: Here it is possible!

In the evening, the garden of the Atzaró is romantically illuminated and the food is served in the excellent gourmet restaurant “The Orange Tree”

Daybed with water lilies

In the Atzaró is great attention to the detail …

… with an Asian touch …

The entrance of the restaurant ‘The Orange Tree’

What a super nice pool! 43 meters long – no reason to complain

What I really enjoy: After spending an exhausting shopping spee at the nearby Hippy market of Las Dalias (IBIZA LOVE Part X) …

… I relax with a delicious chicken-salad- lunch in Atzaró’s restaurant ‘La Veranda’. Here you can also have a wonderful breakfast

Nice: Furniture and fabrics are mainly decorated in white

For eleven years, the family-run hotel pampers its guests. Atzaró has been completely renovated and modernized in 2014

The hotel’s own organic garden

Another inviting lounge area

Beautiful nature with blooming cactus

Contact Atzaró:

Carretera San Juan, km 15
Santa Eularia des Riu
Ibiza, Spain
www.atzaro.com

Featured pic by Atzaró

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