Εορταστική Μεσαιωνική Μπρυζ-Βρυξέλλες

Festive Medieval Bruges - Brussels - Ghent - Antwerp - Lille

Description

A fascinating, mysterious painting filled with atmospheric images that will transport you straight to the Middle Ages. Or, rather, in its most charming version!
The elegant Brussels with its aristocratic charm, Lille with its cultural significance, the beautiful Bruges (we'll be spoiled with three nights in this place!), the historic Ghent with its picturesque alleys, as well as De Haan and the cult city of Antwerp, all come together to create the most beautiful Flemish mural you've ever seen!

Description

Gathering at the airport, a direct flight from Athens to the capital of Belgium, and departing by road to our first stop, in Antwerp. Five large refineries at the docks of the port of Antwerp give the industrial profile of Antwerp, the 3rd largest port in Europe and one of the largest in the world, which is the next stop on our day. The city with the "neighborhood of diamonds" became a major artistic center in the 17th century, based on its famous school of painting with prominent representatives Rubens and Van Dyck. Today, it owes its cult profile to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, which is one of the most important academic institutions in the fashion industry, with prominent names such as that of the pioneering designer Martin Margiela. In the city center, you'll also find the famous Antwerp biscuits, Antwerpse Handjes. The dough with almond and milk chocolate mixture is her trademark!
In the afternoon, we arrive in Bruges, and the hotel where we will stay for three nights is a key point for our excursions.
Bruges looks as if it was plucked straight from a leather-bound book of medieval engravings. Today, it is the first stop on our tour. It can't be a coincidence that its historic center was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A series of medieval and Renaissance landmarks, such as the Church of Panagia with its 122.3 m high brick bell tower and the sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, attributed to Michelangelo (the only work of art of his that was found outside of Italy while he was alive), create an atmosphere that makes the city unique. However, the biggest highlight here is none other than the 13th-century Bell Tower. It houses a mechanism consisting of 48 bells, which is operated by a special operator who gives regular concerts. Additionally, the park with the Lake of Love, the oldest hospital in Europe, St. Agapitos Hospital. John, the highly photographed Saint Bonifice Bridge, the Palace of the Archons, the College of Europe, and the world's first stock exchange are all points that help decipher the historical center. We'll keep the afternoon free for more strolls in the beautiful city.
Although Ostend is more well-known, the real star of the show is the Belgian coastal town of De Haan, which we will visit today. A small and quaint modern city with Belle Époque buildings, built next to the North Sea.Following that, we visit Lille, the capital of French Flanders. The Vikings, Magyars, and Normans claimed it. It was eventually taken by Louis XIV and has been a French city ever since. Gare Lille Flandres, our first stop on our tour, opened in 1892 but construction began in 1862, when the facade was transferred from Paris and Gare du Nord to become the facade of the Lille station.

The church of Saint Mauritius, near the Gothic flamboyant style station, began construction in the 14th century but was completed in the 19th century. Its magnificent architecture with five equal naves has earned it a place among France's historical monuments, and it is our second stop.

We continue with the theater square where the Lille Opera is located, in the building that took the place of the old theater, which gave the name to the square. It is the continuation of the Charles de Gaulle Square, and the two together form the central square of Lille, the Grand Place, which is surrounded by 17th and 18th century buildings. Here we will see the impressive old stock exchange built in 1652. It consists of 24 buildings surrounding a common courtyard, which today operates as a marketplace for used books, posters, old coins, and more. The new stock exchange from 1921, today's chamber of commerce, in a building from 1910 is also classified as a historical monument of the country, while the old garrison has been turned into the Lille's Theatre du Nord. On the other side of the square, a row of 14 uniform buildings built in 1685 now house cafes and restaurants on the ground floor. A drink, a sweet crepe, or Lille's signature pastry, the marveilleux, here or at the oldest patisserie, Meert, we suggest you enjoy in your free time or wander the narrow streets with the medieval facades of the houses in the old quarter and Rue de Gand or Place des Oignons. Having completed our visit to the French-atmosphere Flemish city of Lille, we return to the authentic medieval Bruges.Arriving early in the afternoon in Brussels, we see the futuristic Atomium, built in 1958, with its nine steel spheres connected by girders to form a model of an iron crystal, giving us a first glimpse of the city that promises a dynamic continuation.

After we settle in our hotel, we start our excursion to the European city with its bureaucratic dynamics! Grand Place with its iconic landmarks awaits you to explore it on our guided tour, while in the evening you can get a broader taste of the city at one of its numerous restaurants that have put it firmly on the map of the European gastronomic scene
During our road trip to Brussels, we will stop in Ghent. If one leg of Ghent is immersed in the industries that surround it, the other dips into a pool of art and culture. Thus, at the St. Boniface Cathedral, visitors can admire works by Rubens, Hieronymus Bosch, and the magnificent triptych attributed to the Van Eyck brothers. The magnificent Castle of the Knights marks the city that was a major commercial port during the Middle Ages. Like Bruges, Ghent is endowed with a very beautiful historic center with characteristic buildings of medieval and Renaissance architecture that are perfectly maintained. Nothing is going to disturb your zen, especially not the horns, since cars are forbidden from driving here.
Breakfast free for a last stroll in the capital of Belgium. Filled with this tranquility and the beautiful images that spread the spirit of European culture, another extremely successful journey comes to an end. We head to Brussels Airport for our return flight to Greece.

Duration:

5 Days

Overnight stays

Brussels (3) - Brussels (1)

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Type of Excursion:

Group

Included

Flights with Aegean Airlines
Accommodation: Selected 4* Mayorazgo / Gran Versalles or similar hotels
Meals: Daily breakfast buffet
Transportation: As described in the program
Guided Tours and Excursions: As described in the program
Liability insurance.
VAT
Representative/Accompanying Person.
Travel folder with useful information.
Free travel insurance with coverage for Covid-19.

General terms and conditions of participation in an organized trip

Please read carefully the following General Terms of Participation, which constitute an integral part of the organized travel contract, as well as information and any other recommendations given to you, before registering for any of our organized trips.

Registrations - participation in organized trips

Registrations are made with:

Visit our offices Mitropoleos 1 Chalkida

By phone: 22210 39929

Electronically: lptravel_services@outlook.com or online booking

provided (in order to reserve seats on this trip):

Payment of the required advance payment (50%) or the entire amount, in cash, via credit/debit or prepaid card or by bank transfer to the tourist office.

Unreserved acceptance and compliance with these General Terms and Conditions. For valid registration, the specific trip must be indicated on the receipt of payment of the advance or prepayment, with the dates of departure and return and any other distinctive elements.

The right to participate in the trip is secured by paying the full value and related charges 7 full days before departure.

Failure to pay the full value of the trip within the stipulated time gives our Tourist Office the right to cancel the reservation and possibly demand cancellation fees, in accordance with the cancellation terms provided herein.

Cancellations

In order to implement an organized trip, it is necessary to ensure the minimum number of travelers, on which the costing of the relevant package is based. This number differs for each trip.

Cancellations of participation by the traveler are made in writing to our office or by telephone or after a visit to our office and, regardless of the date of the reservation. In particular:

In case of cancellation of the excursion 11 days (multi-day) or 6 days (single-day) before departure, a 100% refund will be given.

In case of cancellation of the excursion from 9 to 6 days before departure, the reservation will be transferred to another person under the conditions mentioned in Article 6 of the General Terms of Participation)

In the event that a replacement cannot be found, the money can be credited to a later trip within 2 months.

In case of cancellation of the excursion from 6 days (multi-day) or 2 days (single-day) up to the day of departure, the entire amount will be withheld.

In the event of cancellation of the trip by our Tourist Office and if the time of booking allows, the following deadlines for informing the Traveler and 100% refund are followed:

a) 10 days before the departure date, when the trip lasts more than six (6) days.

b) 7 days before the departure date, when the trip lasts between four (4) and five (5) days.

c) 5 days before the departure date, when the trip lasts between two (2) and three (3) days.

d) 48 hours when the trip lasts one (1) day (Day trip).

Notes

* The program flow may vary without omitting anything

* Prices in the event of increases in fuel, ferry tickets, accommodation costs, etc. will be adjusted accordingly with timely information.

* We kindly ask you to arrive at the boarding points on time.

(30 minutes early) to avoid delays

* Boarding and assembly times must be adhered to for the proper operation of the program

* Food consumption is not allowed on the bus.

*In case of failure to arrive at the boarding points on time, the bus will depart without the office being held responsible, and the money will not be refunded.

Flight: Sky Express

Departure: 24/12 - 30/12 & 03/01/26

Dates Route Departure Time Arrival Time

Day 1 Athen - Brussels 10.45 13.05

Day 5 Brussels- Athen 14.05 18.05

Departure Board

Room Price per person Taxes Total Price Bonus Reservation

Single 1.215€ 380€ 1.595€ Available

Double Room 795€ 380€ 1.175€ Available

* Child up to 11 years old in the same room with two (2) adults: -€50

Room Price per person Taxes Total Price Bonus Reservation

Single 1.295€ 380€ 1.675€ Available

Double Room 835€ 380€ 1.215€ Available

* Child up to 11 years old in the same room with two (2) adults: -€50

Room Price per person Taxes Total Price Bonus Reservation

Single 1.165€ 380€ 1.545€ Available

Double Room 775€ 380€ 1.155€ Available

* Child up to 11 years old in the same room with two (2) adults: -€50

Important

For participation in the excursion, a passport or an ID card with Latin characters, issued no more than 15 years ago, is required.
Participation in any Organized Tour implies automatic and unconditional acceptance of the General Terms and Conditions of Participation as stated on the website lptravel-services.com.