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.
The Beguinage and the Lake of Love: audio walk in Bruges
A Michelangelo Madonna his biographers thought was bronze, a painter who was never a soldier, a duke who may not be in his tomb, punishment swans and a love story invented in 1834: the south of Bruges and its legends, each with its own date of birth.
What this walk is about
You start in front of St Saviour's Cathedral, whose tower looks older than it is. Beneath the tower of the Church of Our Lady you meet a statue that two of Michelangelo's biographers described as bronze, and that one night in 1944 left the church wrapped in a mattress. Opposite St John's Hospital you take apart the legend of the wounded Memling; by the choir, a duchess who died at 25 and a duke whose body Charles V brought here, if it really was his; on the south side, by Lanchals' chapel, the origin of the swans. Then come almshouses for poor widows, the Beguinage and the life of its beguines, the little house that controlled the city's water, and the Minnewater, where you find out who invented Minna and how a novel turned Bruges into the most romantic, and the saddest, city in Europe.
- Start
- The Cathedral That Arrived Late
- Finish
- Bruges, the Dead City
- Who it is for
- A walk for couples. A walk for art lovers.
- 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.
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Open a marker to see its page. Use two fingers to move the map on mobile.
- 1
The Cathedral That Arrived Late
- 2
The Madonna Mistaken for Bronze
- 3
A Statue Wrapped in a Mattress
- 4
Memling, the Soldier Who Never Was
- 5
The Duchess and the Duke Who May Not Be There
- 6
The Swans of Lanchals
- 7
Widows, the Poor and Houses That Move
- 8
A City Belonging to the Prince
- 9
Mary's Vineyard
- 10
The City's Tap
- 11
The Lake of Love, Invented in 1834
- 12
Bruges, the Dead City
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.
Bruges in Revolt
In the Burg and the Markt, Bruges fought over who held power. Follow the clashes between counts, guilds and townspeople across its two great squares.
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.