“Formosis Bruga puellis." When they are seen enveloped in the mantilla of Spanish origin, their brunette complexions and dark eyes render them most picturesque and pleasing objects among the many splendid and exquisite specimens of architecture with which their dwellings are adorned and embellished. "Fair city, worthy of her ancient fame! The season of her splendour is gone by; Wide squares and streets, with many a court "Spacious and undefaced, but ancient all. Philip the Good, to whose memory a tomb is erected in one of the chapels. In the north aisle of the chapel of the Cordonnie are several monumental brasses, built into the wall, which may be looked upon as interesting specimens of early Flemish art, in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Notre Dame is a church no ways remarkable for its architecture, surmounted by a tower and stunted spire, 435 feet high. The most precious ornament of Notre Dame is a statue of the Virgin and Child, said to be by Michael Angelo. If it be surprising to find a work by this great man in Belgium, behold the explanation. The work was painted for Genes, and the vessel in which it was being conveyed was taken by a Dutch pirate, who brought it to Amsterdam, where a Bruges merchant bought it and presented it to this church. Horace Walpole offered, in vain, for it 30,000 florins. There are many other excellent paintings in the church, the Bruges contains very many objects of interest principal of which are the Adoration of the ! which will requiré a day at least to visit. Magi, by Seghers; the Adoration of the Shepherds, by De Crayer; an Infant Jesus, by Jacques Van Oost; St. Anthony of Padua, an Assumption, and the Marriage of St. Catherine of Sienne. When Imry read of tilts, in days of old, SOUTHEY. The Cathedral (St. Saveur). This beautiful church was founded in the seventh century by St. Eloy, and was greatly indebted for its erection to the liberality of Dagobert, the then King of France. It was entirely consumed by fire in 1358, but was again erected, after a more magnificent scale, on the same spot, the charitable subscriptions of the faithful defraying the cost. It is built of brick, and in its external appearance presents nothing remarkable or attractive, but its Interior is admirable. Tne paintings are worth notice because of their antiquity, and representing contributions to the history of Flemish art. Immediately under the grand entrance are several works by J. Van Oost, the Baptism of Christ, Christ on the Cross, and Jesus leaving his Mother to ascend Calvary, being the principal. A small picture, with shutters, hangs at the south side of the aisle, representing the Martyrdom of St. Sylvester, by Hans Hemling. There is likewise an excellent painting of the Last Supper, with Abraham and Elijah in the centre, and at the de, by Peter Porbus. On either side of the altar is a black and white marble tomb. The choir is adorned with tapestry executed by Vanderboight, Mong which are suspended the aims of chevaliers the order of the Torson d'or, presents from ? that order, placed in the church by The Tombs of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, and of his daughter, Mary, wife of the Emperor Maximilian, are to be seen in the south aisle of the choir. These were the last native sovereigns of the Netherlands. Mary of Burgundy died on the 27th of March, 1452; and Charles was killed at the battle of Nancy, in 1477. The monument of the Duchess was erected in 1495. In 1558 Philip II. paid Master Iongehlinck the sum of 14,000 florins for the execution of one similar to that of the Duchess, for his grandfather, Charles the Bold. The effigies of both are made of copper, richly gilt, and repose at full length on slabs of black marble. Beneath and around the slabs a coats of arms richly enamelled. They have lately beer re-gilt and cleaned. They are shewn to the public only on days of great solemnity, but strangers can easily obtain access to see them on other occasions. Visitors will be well repaid by visits to the churches of St. Giles, Jacques, Walburge, Anne, &c. The Church of Jerusalem is the fruit of a vow made by a pious merchant of Bruges, who, when in the Holy City, promised to build in his native town, if ever he returned to it in safety, a BRUGES CHURCH OF ST. BASIL.--HŰTEL DE VILLE—PALAIS DE JUSTICE. 21 Route 3} temple, on the model of that of Jerusalem, with an exact representation of the tomb of our Baviour. The church also contains some fine specimens of coloured glass. In the Church of St, Salvador are the Seven Acts of Mercy, by Van Dyke; the Resurrection, by Van Os; the Martyrdom of St. Barbara, by Cels; and numerous other pictures. The Church of St. Mary is remarkable for its fine specimens of carving; the pictures are not of striking merit. Church of St. Basil, or of the Holy Blood is situated opposite the Town Hall. A beautiful Gothic façade will attract notice. It is called, Le petite eglise de Saint Basili, and tradition says that some drops of our Saviour's blood, brought by Count Thierry of Alsace, from the Holy Land, are now deposited in a richly jewelled and enamelled shrine of gilt silver. This is shewn in the Upper Chapel, the shrine being exposed on every Wednesday to the veneration of the faithful. In this chape! are some beautiful paintings, and a pulpit, with medallions carved in wool. Fifty cents are charged for admission. Hospital of St. John, which is close to the church of Notre Dame. The period of its foundation is unknown. It is only known that in 1188 the governor prescribed many rules to the eligious brothers and sisters of the house. It originally only received Magd lenes into it, but now persons of every description are received and attended by the sisters. This institution is celebrated for possessing several beautiful pictures, painted by Hans Hemling, so remarka le for purity of colouring and brightness of tone that the most indifferent spectator will find himself an admirer of their prominent beauties. In the chapter house are hung the portraits of some of the directors and superiors of the establishment, the celebrated painting,—the | pride of the city and admiration of travellers,--by Hans Hemling, presented by him to the hospital, as a mark of his gratitude for the kindness with which he was treated when a patient there. The other objects are the Virgin and Child, the Marriage of St. Catherine, the Decapitation of St. John the Baptist, and St John the Evangelist at Patmos, with a Crucifixion by Franks, and a Holy Family, by Vandyke. The Belegary, or Chasse de St. Ursula, is worth notice, consisting of a wooden coffer, painted by Hemling, in which is the arm of the saint. The sides are painted with representations of St. Ursula's pilgrimages and martyrdom. The history of these paintings is singular and merits a short notice. Hemling was originally a libertine and dissipated character at Bruges. He was engulphed in misery and became a soldier. He was not known as a vainter when a wound, received in 1477 at the battle of Nancy, compelled him to enter the hospital as a patient. His wound was healed in a short time, but he so well liked the mode of life, &c., of the hospital, that he remained in it for six years, and paid his expenses by painting these pictures. The Hôtel de Ville is a beautiful gothic monument, well preserved, founded in 1377 by Count Louis de Maele. It was formerly surmounted by six beautiful towers. The niches seen in front contained 33 statues of the Counts of Flanders, the designs of which are preserved in the beautiful work of M. Delpuire-The Annals of Bruges. To-day these niches are empty. In 1792, the troops of the French revolution caused the statues to be destroyed as "images of tyrants." They were burnt in the Grand Square in a bonfire, the materials of which were composed of the gallows, the scaffold, and the wheel. In the Grand Hall of the building is the public library containing 8,000 vols. and 500 MSS. The staircase of the Hotel deserves notice, and also the paintings adorning it Palais de Justice is close to the Hôtel de Ville, and was formerly the residence of the Counts of Flanders, a.id was anciently called Palais du Franc de Bruges-the Palace of the Liberty of Bruges a large district independent of the city. The interior contains little reniarkable save the council chamber of the magistrates and the magnificent chimney or mantel-piece. It is carved in wood, and is a chef-d'œuvre of sculpture in its way, including statues of Charles V., Mary of Burgundy, Maximilian, Charles the Bold, and Marguerite of York. The Story of Susannab is represented on the marble bas-reliefs decorating it. Tour des Halles, or Market Tower.-In the Grand Square, or market-place, is held the an nual fair, commencing the 4th May, and lasting 15 days. There are also two horse fairs, of two days each, held the first Thursday after Easter, and the 25th July. The meat market in this square is exquisitely neat and weil arranged. the extremity of the square is a steeple or belfry, which is esteemed one of the most beautiful in Europe; the ascent to it is by 533 steps, and it contains a splendid set of chimes, which are set in motion every quarter of an hour by an immense cylinder, acting like the barrel of an organ and setting in motion the keys of the instrument. Near this belfry is the splendid building formerly occupied as the drapers' hall; it is now divided into two coffee-houses, and contains a fine yaulted saloon, in which the National Society of Literature hold their meetings. Opposite to this building, and forming the corners of the street of St. Arnaud, are two old houses, one of which was the residence of the Emperor Charles, and of Charles II. of England during his exile. In his exile he did not want a royal title, for the burghers of Bruges elected him Roi des Arba le triers, King of the Cross-bowmen. The house now bears the sign "Au Lion Belge" The Covered Fish Market, with its granite columns, is a handsome building, lately erected. In the opposite corner of the Rue St. Arnaud is the site of the Craenenberg, traditionally interestng as being the prison of Maximilian in 1487-8 Near the Rue Noordzand is the Prinssenhof. In it Marguerite of York, sister to Edward IV., was married, in 1468, to Charles the Bold. The Academy of Painting is in the building known as Het Foorters Huis, formerly the factory of the Biscayens, and contains some very ane old paintings, by J. Van Eyck, Hans Heming, Pourbus, and Claessens. The principal manuractures of Bruges are lace, woollen stuffs, camlets, hats, snuff, china, carpets, ticking, dimities, and a blue dye which is peculiar to the loom. The lace-workers are said to exceed 5,000 in qumber. There are also numerous salt and sugar refineries, rope walks, dyeing-houses, breweries, distilleries, and bleaching grounds. Bruges also contains a museum, with a tolerable t of country surrounding Bruges, for ircumstance of the inhabitants having succeeded in throwing off the yoke of both the rival cities of Bruges and Ghent, and obtaining from the Counts of Flanders numerous exclusive privileges, amongst which were those of separate magistrates and tribunals. The high state of cultivation into which this province has been brought by the unremitting exertions of the inhabitants, cannot be too much admired. The northern parts abound in the richest pastures, and produce wheat, rye, and barley in pro fusion, while the southern districts are equally fertile in flax and rape-seed. Bruges to Ghent.-Quitting the station at Bruges, the railway is carried a little to the south side of the canal,and passing to the right the village of Oostcamp, it runs through a country no ways interesting, and arrives at Blomendael, a little village containing 3,150 inhabitants, and watered by the Splenterbeck, which flows into the canal. Shortly after leaving this station, the road winds to the left a little distance from the canal from Ghent to Bruges, and entering the district of the commune of st. George, it quits West and enters East Flanders. Shortly after arriving at Aeltre, a commune of the district of Ghent, with a popu. lation of 5,400 inhabitants, it is seen to the right of the canal. The road from here passes for some minutes through a cutting, and emerging thence commands a view of Bellem and Hansbeke the former a vi lage of 1,700 inhabitants the latter one with 2,800. The railway is next carried over, by a bridge, the Canal de Nevile, which joins the canal from Ghent to Bruges, and arrives at Landeghem, a commune of the district of Ghent, with a population of 2,000 souls. Leaving here we cross the Lys by a bridge, and arrive at Ghent. A description of Ghent will be found in Route 1, page 7. Ghent station is on the south-east side of the town. On the high ground to the left, at the other side of the Scheldt, is the new citadel. The Church of St. Pierre, with its dome, is seen on the other side of the hill. The Grand Canal between Bruges and Ghent is bounded by high banks, and lined with tall trees, entwined by pretty villas and sweet gar. dens. GHENT TO BRUSSELS—(Seo Route 10, page 55). |