In Bruges

March 19, 2009 By: Maureen Jones

If any city can make a visitor feel like a youngster in a sweet shop, it has to be Bruges, Belgium.

This postcard pretty city upholds a luscious reputation as one of the world’s finest chocolate centers. Death by chocolate: You've no doubt heard the term and scoffed at the notion, but if there is one place where the concept would be plausible it would have to be in Belgium.

The Belgians are famous for producing the world's finest chocolate and have been doing so for more than a century. Jean Neuhaus opened the country's first chocolate shop in Brussels in 1857. While Brussels is often touted as the chocolate capital, the pretty Flemish city of Bruges is emerging as a major chocolate player and where I headed for my chocolate fix.

The World Heritage listed city centre is picture perfect with a moat surrounding the old town and willow-lined canals snaking throughout the city. Gliding past tilting Gothic buildings on a canal cruise is an essential way to experience the atmosphere, even though you'll have to line up in summer when it seems every tourist in Europe descends on the place. Around three million people visit Bruges each year, but don't let that put you off. This is one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe and well worth seeing.

Bruges is lucky enough to have more than 40 specialist chocolate shops, an annual chocolate festival and other special chocolate promotions. They even have a museum dedicated to the sweet goodness. If ever there was a place to test your self control, this is it. Around every cobblestone corner lurks a chocolate shop. There are also lots of lovely little coffee and pastry shops in historic buildings where you can sit and sample everything that looks good. The antique shops here are extremely interesting and the street markets are fun to browse in.

Bruges is a must see on any European itinerary. I recommend staying at the Prinsenhof Hotel or the Bourgondisch Cruyce in Bruges, and in Brussels, the Royal Windsor or Rocco Forte's Hotel Amigo.

Ed. Note: If you haven't yet seen the movie "In Bruges" starring Colin Farrell, check out the trailer. It might just wet your Bruges appetite.