Places To Visit Near Ostend

Why not stay with us a little longer and explore the Flanders region? There are so many wonderful towns and villages to visit nearby, some of our favourites include:

Bruges

The medieval centre makes Bruges one of the most beautiful cities in Europe with glorious architecture wherever you wander. The Grote Markt is the heart of the city, dominated by the Belfry. Climbing the 366 is hard work but you are rewarded with incredible views from the 83m tower. On Burg Square the magnificent Bruges Town Hall dates from 1376 and has been the seat of local government for 700 years. The gothic chamber is a work of art: its walls adorned with paintings under the most ornate ceiling.

Also on Burg Square is the Basilica of the Holy Blood which houses a relic believed to contain the blood of Jesus.

Belgium is famous for our chocolate but it is Bruges, with its 49 chocolate boutiques and a chocolate museum, that is truly the world capital of chocolate! You just can’t help sampling one or two…

Groeninge Museum and the Arentshuis contain fine art from the 15th century to the present day or visit Hospitaalmuseum to see paintings by the Flemish Primates. The Bruggemuseum is actually 12 separate collections, each housed in buildings within short walking distance of one another.

Getting to Bruges from Ostend

Catch one of the frequent trains from Ostend directly to Bruges. Journey time is typically 13 minutes.

Ypres

Best known as the site of three major battles of World War One, Ypres is an attractive town just under an hours drive from Ostend. Most of the battlefields and cemeteries are outside the town and a car is the most practical way to see them but there are also a number of tours available.

In Flanders Fields Museum in the Ypres Cloth Hall gives an excellent overview of WW1. It takes you into people’s daily lives to show you what they lived through. Many visitors find it a moving and powerful experience.

The Ramparts surround the historic centre city. Originally little more than an earth wall with moat around, the defences were extended over time and developed into complex fortifications. Walking along the top of the Ramparts the route is 2.6km with many information panels highlighting interesting points along the way.

Every three years Ypres devotes a parade to the cat and the next Kattenstoet will be held on Sunday 13th May 2012. The Festival of the Cats dates back to the middle ages when cats were thrown from the bell tower of the Cloth Hall into the town square below. Nowadays the event includes parade with many festivities and a Jester throws toy cats down for the crowd to catch.

Stene

There are many picturesque villages nearby but Stene is our favourite. Just outside the city it is a wonderful place for an afternoon walk in the sun and throughout the simmer small are exhibitions are held in the old mill.