

E-text prepared by Robert J. Hall



Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
      file which includes the original illustrations.
      See 18670-h.htm or 18670-h.zip:
      (http://www.gutenberg.net/dirs/1/8/6/7/18670/18670-h/18670-h.htm)
      or
      (http://www.gutenberg.net/dirs/1/8/6/7/18670/18670-h.zip)





BRUGES AND WEST FLANDERS

Painted by

AMEDEE FORESTIER

Described by

G. W. T. OMOND

1906






[Illustration: A FLEMISH COUNTRY GIRL]




Preface

There is no part of Europe more wanting in what is known as 'scenery'
than Flanders; and those who journey there must spend most of their
time in the old towns which are still so strangely mediaeval in
their aspect, or in country places which are worth seeing only
because of their connection with some event in history--Nature
has done so little for them. Thus the interest and the attraction
of Flanders and the Flemish towns are chiefly historical. But it
would be impossible to compress the history of such pl