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The
fortunes of Bruges rose and fell with the strength
of the Zwin, the river on which the city is built.
Although there is evidence that the area was inhabited
as far back as Neolithic times, the beginning of Bruges' history, as a pre-eminent commercial and cultural
center, is marked by the great Dunkerque Floods
of the twelfth century. The wash of the flood
waters made the Zwin into an ideal trade river,
and Bruges soon prospered. Between the 13th
and 15th centuries, the city became one of the
richest in the world, its trade supplemented
by fine cloth manufacturers and excellent banking
services.
Its population soared, its port welcomed ships
from all over the world, its artisans produced
tapestries, sculpture, paintings and lace of unparalleled
splendor, and its wealthy citizens patronized
the finest artists of the age.
By the
middle of the 16th century, all this had changed.
The Zwin had begun to silt up, discouraging the
passage of commercial shipping. Trade routes shifted
and the cloth industry declined. After suffering
a series of sieges and attacks over the next few
centuries, Bruges had by the 18th century become
a ghost of its former self.
At
its city center, Bruges remains a medieval
city of stunning beauty and charm. It is rich
in architectural and artistic treasures, graced
by quiet canals and waterways and a favorite
to visitors. |
