The whole of Bruges is a public art gallery

Bruges is one of the most beautiful cities in Belgium and perhaps on the northern coast of Europe. The entire historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As with many other cities in Europe, one of the most interesting part about Bruges is its public art. A public art space is reflection of a vibrant, open and inclusive society. It also denotes that how a society respects different ideas and preserves them. Art plays an essential role in formulating new alternatives and it provides starting point for dialog. Art and art installations are there to see all around in Bruges- roadsides, house tops, balconies, city centres and even on public water taps. Well I am not an art critic, but I found the different forms of art in public places very fascinating in Bruges.

Bruges has been famous for being the cradle of Flemish Renaissance art. And while strolling around in the streets of this medieval city, we can understand why.

City was also host to Bruges Triennial of Contemporary Art and Architecture last year, when 18 international contemporary artists created installations which were displayed throughout the city.

Another public art seen from the canal.

Beautiful paintings as souvenirs at the market-

Even the public drinking water taps are art among themselves

Few more of city’s art insatallations

A different side: Below is a painting about Stoofstraat in the actual Stroofstraat- an narrow alleyway of Bruges. It’s called ‘stoofstraat’ because of the baths (or ‘stews’ in Shakespearean English) that were here. ‘Stood’ also has a pronunciation of ‘stove’ which were here for hot baths. And baths  in the middle ages weren’t much better than brothels. Wealthy man used to come here to take’ baths’. It used to be said, “the rich could get cleaned up and at the same get dirty with the ladies.” It was infamously referred to as Bruges’ Red Light District, but no more.