podtour
From the Belfry to the Canals
From the Belfry to the canals, look at postcard Bruges with its changes in mind. Not everything that looks medieval is.
Bruges in Revolt: audio walk in Bruges
A count murdered as he prayed, a two-word password at dawn, the city's privileges kept behind ten keys and a future emperor held in a spice merchant's house: the Burg and the Markt as the stage for a long fight over who ran Bruges.
What this walk is about
You start in the Burg, the count's castle, on a foggy morning in 1127: a count dies in a church that no longer exists, and a notary writes it all down on wax tablets. The city comes out of the crime with new freedoms. In the Markt you'll hear the password of 1302, meet a weaver and a butcher, watch the city's charters go up in flames, see them locked away behind ten keys, and hear the crowd demand that they be read out loud. Maximilian of Austria ends up held in a spice merchant's house, his right-hand man is tortured on the very bench he'd brought in and beheaded in the square, and the king leaves Bruges after swearing the peace before a city on its knees. You finish in front of two bronze heroes who were unveiled twice.
- Start
- Murder in the Mist
- Finish
- Heroes in Bronze
- Who it is for
- For another visit, when you want to look beyond the familiar sights. A walk for history lovers. Written for adults.
- Languages
- Spanish and British English
- Underfoot
- The walk is mostly level. There are cobbles or uneven surfaces.
The route, stop by stop
An outline of the walk. The full stories are in the app.
Loading the map…
Open a marker to see its page. Use two fingers to move the map on mobile.
- 1
Murder in the Mist
- 2
The Notary and His Wax Tablets
- 3
Twenty-Eight Thrown from the Tower
- 4
The City Enters the Castle
- 5
Shield and Friend
- 6
A Weaver and a Butcher
- 7
The Treasury with Ten Keys
- 8
Read Us Our Privileges
- 9
A King in the Spice Merchant's House
- 10
The Executioner's Bench
- 11
Peace on the Green Platform
- 12
Heroes in Bronze
Walking directions are based on mapped pedestrian routes. Check local access and signs; the route is not an accessibility guarantee. Times are approximate.
Bruges, before you go
Canals and squares are comfortably close together, but the cobbles have their own requirements. Wear comfortable shoes and step aside to admire a façade when somebody needs to cycle past.
More walks nearby
Bruges, Port of Europe
There was a time when much of Europe's business passed through Bruges. Follow the houses and quays of the merchants who made it wealthy.
Spanish Bruges
Spanish merchants had their own streets, quays and arguments in Bruges. Follow those who brought wool, books and new lives to the city.
Good to know
What is Podtour?
An app for self-guided audio walks. Choose a city and a route, then listen to the stories behind its streets. You decide when to start and when to stop.
When can I download the app?
Podtour is coming to iOS and Android. There is no confirmed launch date yet. Join the waitlist and we will let you know when it is ready.
Does Podtour include attraction tickets?
No. Street walks and monument audio tours do not include admission tickets, transport or a guide accompanying you.
Can I listen without an internet connection?
Download the audio in the app before heading out, then listen offline. Loading the online base map and calculating a new route from your location require a connection.
What languages are included?
Every route includes Spanish and British English. The English version is adapted for English-speaking travellers, rather than translated word for word.
How do I get a whole city for free?
Join the waitlist, choose a city and confirm your email address. When the app launches, we will email you with access details. No card is required. You can also try one free route in every city.
Can I buy for myself or for a group?
Yes. Your own access is included and you can choose 0–5 guests: up to 6 people including you. Each guest saves up to €0.50 on a walk, €1 on a pack or €2 on a whole city compared with buying separately. The counter shows the total before you confirm one payment.
How do I share, and when must guests accept?
After paying, share your purchase’s invitation link. Each guest opens it in Podtour and accepts their place on their own iPhone or Android phone. They must redeem it within 30 days of purchase. Unclaimed places then expire and cannot be recovered or renewed. Access accepted in time is kept. Opening the link does not use a place; one account takes just one place, and no more people can join once all places are taken.
Can I add guests after buying?
No. Choose all your guests before confirming the first purchase. Afterwards you can share the places you paid for, but you cannot increase their number or restart the 30-day deadline.
Your first city,
on Podtour.
Join the waitlist. When we launch, your chosen city is yours to explore.
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Your first city,
on Podtour.
Join the waitlist and get one whole city free when Podtour launches. You choose where.
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One city per person. All its Podtour routes in Spanish and English. Available at launch. Offer details.