Bruges, Guido Gezelle, A Poet's Journey

The walk takes you from the statue of Guido Gezelle, in the touristic heart of Bruges to the beautiful gardens of the Guido Gezelle museum. The 19th century West-Flemish poet Guido Gezelle guides you from the Church of Our Lady through the parish of Saint-Walburga with its English influences to the charming quarter of Saint-Anne. You stroll along lovely canals and picturesque streets to the mills in the green outskirts of Bruges.

Guido Gezelle was a 19th century poet-priest, who is very well known in Flanders. Streets in many towns are named after the poet. He wrote in the Flemish language, often using dialect.

The life and work of Gezelle connects you to 19th century Bruges: its buildings, school life, political struggles between liberals and Catholics, pastoral work and the cult of the Holy blood. Gezelle had also a special relationship with the English immigrants in Bruges and the English institutions such as the English convent, the English seminary and college. He was a real lover of England and spoke the language fluently. He dreamed of going to England as a missionary, but his superiors kept him in Belgium because of his exceptional literary talent.

Unique documents and manuscripts of the Gezelle archives, sound and poetry fragments, old film material of the archives of the national television and 19th century photographs of the city archives, brighten up the tour.

The tour was arranged by the Guido Gezelle Archives kept at Bruges Public Library.
Enjoy the walk…

Arrangement : E. Depuydt ; Language advice and translation of the poem "Bruggewaards": M. Cumberlege;
Voices: E. Depuydt, J. Van Eenoo, K. Calis, D. Van den Berghe; Song: Bart Vandekerkhove
(www.gezellegezongen.be ) ; Music: Kevin MacLeod: Trio for Piano, Violin and Viola (freemusicarchive.org)

📏 3 km
🕑 1 - 2 hours
⭐ easy
📍 Bruges Public Library (also possible: start at any stop)
🏁 Guido Gezelleplein