Gates walk

Gates Walk focuses on Bruges' city gates. You will also get to see the leafy outskirts of the city. Many other points of interest that are not mentioned here are situated on or near the walking route. Nothing is to stop you from taking a detour to discover the rest of Bruges.

This walk is an interesting city walk as well as a magnificent nature walk. Almost the entire route runs through the leafy areas surrounding the ramparts. The only section of the walk that is actually in the city centre is the bit between the start of the walk and the Dampoort. The natural environment surrounding the city ramparts is very varied. You walk past beautiful trees, such as horse chestnut trees, lime trees, plane trees, bald cypresses, oak trees, beech trees, poplars, willows, etc. Shrubs also abound: yews, alders, tulip trees, magnolias, etc. In springtime, people can enjoy tens of thousands of flowers in various places near the ramparts.

A good place to start our Gates Walk is near the impressive Concert Hall. Architects Robbrecht and Daem turned the building into a centre of contemporary Bruges in only a few years. Take some time to enjoy the excellent acoustics in the Chamber Music Hall or the Concert Hall. The nearby underground car park acts as a modern 'gate' for everyone coming to the city by car.

Walk through Smedenstraat and on to the Smedenpoort. The first gate here became operational in 1368. Most of the present building dates from 1615, when the upper section was modified. In the course of the 14th century, several gates were built as part of the fortification of the city, but from the 16th century the fortification had to be reviewed due to the greater range of canons and other artillery. Star-shaped reinforcements were designed and the outer moat was given a considerably greater depth. The bronze skull above the left-hand side passage through the gate reminds us of the execution of traitor François vander Straeten. 'Het Waterhuis' (1760) was built as part of the waterworks system. Trees were planted in this part of the ramparts at the end of the 19th century. Today quite a few trees, such as the lime trees and chestnut trees, are more than 100 years old.

The construction of the Ezelpoort was commissioned in 1369. It was modelled on the Smedenpoort. The Ezelpoort is not part of our walk, but if you want to see it, you can walk back and forth from the Smedenpoort along the direction of Guido Gezellelaan and Gulden Vlieslaan. On your way there, you can stop at the Blood Pit for a while. Until the 1500s, healers used to dump the blood of their daily bloodlettings here. Bloodletting was practised in an effort to cure patients.

At the Smedenpoort go left towards the Boeveriepoort, which was brought into use one year earlier. It didn't stand the test of time and was taken down in 1863. Its name and foundations are all that remain. The foundations can only be seen at low water. The name of the gate refers to the Latin term for fields (where cows graze).
 
 On our way to the Katelijnepoort we see the station on our right. A few hundred yards onwards (at Begijnenvest) we arrive at the Poertoren. This tower was built in 1398. From 1477 it was used as a gunpowder warehouse and workshop, which is where the tower's name comes from ('poer' = powder). The name remained the same throughout the centuries. Right next to the Poertoren is the house of the weir keeper who operated the Keizerinnen weir behind it. To the left we see the beautiful Minnewater Park, which has a special, irresistible charm, no matter what season. The Katelijnepoort stood near Katelijnestraat until 1862.
 
 The walk to the brick Gentpoort from 1401 is not very long and takes you trough a wonderful natural environment. The Gentpoort probably had the most important strategic location of all the city's gates. It is where the road to Ghent starts. Together with six other historical top locations, this gate is part of a concept called the Historical Museums of Bruges (Bruggemuseum). A new Gentpoort museum about the city gates and ramparts will open to the public in 2007.
 
 The only road disrupting the route to the Kruispoort is Maalsesteenweg. The rest is a pleasant walk through a leafy area. Between Maalsesteenweg and de Kruispoort you see the Courthouse on your left. Architecturally, the Kruispoort is very similar to the Gentpoort. Both gates were built in sand-lime brick at the same time. Important pieces of this important Bruges defence system were preserved. ERF - a heritage organisation of youngsters organising annual projects for National Heritage Day - is based at The Kruispoort.
 
 The route from the Kruispoort to the Dampoort runs next to the canal, which is almost dead straight. Around the middle of the 16th century, 25 windmills stood on the raised ramparts around the city. Today there are four left, two of which stand by the canal between the Kruispoort and Dampoort. You see the St. Janshuis mill at about one third of the way between the Kruispoort and Dampoort. This post mill was built in 1770. It was frequently repaired over the centuries and managed to stand the test of time. Even in the 21st century, it is still in a decent condition. Once you get to the Koelewei mill, the Dampoort won't be far away. From 1765 until 1991, the sails of the mill turned in the winds of Meulebeke. In 1991 the mill was moved to a windy spot on Kruisvest in Bruges. You will see two more mills on the way: the 'Bonne-Chière' and the 'Nieuwe Papegaai'. Compared to other city gates, the Dampoort was granted only a short life. It was built in 1621 on a strategically important location: the start of the 'Damse Vaart' canal. Precisely two and a half centuries later, the gateway was demolished.
 
 You leave the city ramparts at the Dampoort. The simplest route back goes through Potterierei. Walk towards the market square and then go through two shopping streets called Steenstraat and Zuidzanstraat until you reach ''t Zand' and the Concert Hall. 

Picture: © Photographer: Patrick Hermans | Agency: Dreamstime.com
Text: GVDV/RD - © AT-Europe bvba