Belgium – Kortrijk (En)
Kortrijk sometimes known in English as Courtrai or Courtray, combines the charm of a big city with the comfort of a small town. The Leie River adds a picturesque appeal to the Broel Towers. The city centre is a vibrant mix of ancient heritage, modern architecture and boundless creativity.
Where to stay
We stayed in the village’s motorhome area (50.8314375, 3.2682928 lat, long), 100 metres from the Broel towers and 10 minutes from the centre. The area costs 15 euros per day including electricity, filling and emptying water. It has 8 large spaces. You get the ticket when you enter and pay when you leave. I highly recommend it, as you have everything and are just a step away from the centre.
What to see
We were so close to the Broel Towers that we saw them first. They are two cylindrical towers made of sandstone and limestone with pointed roofs that span a stone bridge over the River Leie. The south tower was built in 1385 to control river traffic and the north tower, from 1415, was used as an armoury. There are floating gardens on the river that give everything a beautiful view.
The next thing we saw was the Church of Our Lady which is also a museum and the Beguinage now both on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Beguinage was founded in 1238 and still preserves about forty baroque dwellings from the 17th century. The Beguinage church, which dates back to 1464, was rebuilt in baroque style in the 18th century.
Passing the Church you come to Central Square surrounded by restaurants and cafes, all with outdoor seating where the Cloth Halls once stood, built in 1410. The highlight of the square is the bell tower, a 28-metre-high tower with four jet-black spires that rises above the square. Built in 1307, it housed the municipal treasury and archives and was a lookout point in case of fires and danger. Now on the UNESCO World Heritage List, it is the city’s most recognisable symbol.
The Church of St. Martin is also located around the square, with an 83-metre tower and a carillon of 49 bells. Inside there are artistic treasures such as the Tower of the Sacraments and the Triptych of the Holy Spirit, as well as a treasure trove of valuable textiles and silverware. Opposite the square is the fantastic Town Hall building.
What to eat
On Saturday our friends Javi and Marta came from Brussels to visit us and have lunch with us. We decided to have lunch at one of the restaurants in the square where they gave us a free tapa consisting of balls filled with melted cheese, which were delicious. For lunch Javi and Ben ordered the typical hamburger with everything (egg, bacon, etc.), Marta ordered curry prawns and I had sole with salad and everything came with chips!
While walking around we discovered a local beer called Martha Sexy Blond and went to a pub so Marta could try it. And we ended up in our motorhome so they could check it out. Javi thinks that living in a motorhome is like living on a boat!
We said goodbye to our friends whom we always try to see when we come to Belgium and went to Ypres, a town home to numerous war memorials and museums and where important buildings were carefully rebuilt, including the Gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral and its imposing spire, which you can see in the following blog!
