Bridging The Gap.

Nepomucenusbrug as Wollestraat
approaches Dijver.

 The gap being in my knowledge about the wonderful bridges of Brugge which tell some of the story of Brugge from early years.

The actual name, Brugge, originates in the Norse word, Bryggja, a jetty, which  indeed contains the 

Guido Gezelle 1830-1899
Influential writer, poet
and R.C. priest.
Born in Brugge.

Flemish word, Brug, meaning bridge. Guido Gezelle, the national poet of Belgium, wrote that he had been told that the city of Bruges started as a bridge over the Reye at Blindezelbrug between the Burg and the Vismarkt. To protect the bridge from the feared Vikings, buildings were erected in the vicinity for soldiers to be billeted there to defend it. Possibly, on this slender and fearful beginning, Brugge was born!

Gothic bay of Herman van
Oudveld. Vlamingstrat 100

Apparently there are now around eighty bridges in Bruges At the time of the first ramparts, in 1127 and 1297, they were built of wood but before the end of the 14^th century, stone bridges began to appear. They were strong and elegant as we can witness from the Augustijnenbrug, between Spanjaardsstraat and Hoedenmakersstraat built in 1425 and named for the Augustinian fathers from Mechelen who settled in nearby Jan Miraelstraat in 1250. The bridge has three arches spanning the Reie with stone benches along the rail intended, not for sitting, but for displaying merchandise for sale to travellers entering or leaving the city.

The Vlamingbrug between Vlamingstraat and St Jorisstraat built by Jan nd Arnold van Uitkerke and Jan Petyt during the same period has a similar design with the stone benches for commerce. Very near to this bridge, indeed overlooking it, and the canal, is the exquisite Gothic bay of Herman van Oudveld who lived there in the 16^th century and was the Dean of the silver and goldsmiths of Brugge.

Konigsbrug between Engelsstraat and Spiegelrei.
Similar mediaeval benches for merchandise.

Other bridges which date back to early fifteenth century construction includes the Wulfhagebrug between Wulfhagestraat and Beenhouwersstraat called Sleutelsbrug after a local brewery, and the Meebrug next to the Meestraat which may have been built by the famous mason, Jan van Oudenarde. The beautiful corner house at this bridge is the setting for the novel, Pension Vives, by Norbert-Edgard

Part of the beautiful Leeuwenbrug

Fonteyn, 1904-193\8, an unorthodox teacher from Veldegem who became a writer. The original Leeuwenbrug in the Leeuwstraat would have been in place as part of the early defence system of the first ramparts; the present beautiful bridge was built in 1627 by Jan de Wachtere. The elegant llons were sculpted by Jeroom Stalpaert in 1629.

Below the bridge from Langerei to Potterierei, leading to Carmersstraat, the 14^th century Carmersbrug, there is a figure of a white friar, a Carmelite one assumes, in the canal against the wall with an inscription informing that in 1976 seven bridges in Bruges were re-built. Next to it are the arms of the Carmelites.

Carmersbrug

The bridge which always intrigues me is the Nepomucenus Bridge at the junction of Wollestraat and Eekhoutstraat. It is artistic and imposing, In times past it was called the Eekhoutbrug leading, as it then did, to Eekhoute Abbey, now completely disappeared. On the bridge is a large statue of John of Nepomuk [Czech Republic], Archbishop of Prague and confessor to Queen Joanna in the 14^th century. John refused to reveal the secrets of Joanna’s confessions to Wenceslas, her consort, and for this, he was tortured, bound then thrown from a bridge into the River Moldau. The Latin inscription on the base of the pedestal of the statue to John reads: “ En pic mutus en os non accusant.” Behold this pious mute whose mouth did not accuse.” and is composed of the 25 letters of Sanctus Joannes Nepomucenus. Now I know all this, I shall certainly look differently at the figure on this bridge!

Carmelite figure, below the Carmersbrug.

Sanctus Joannes Nepomucenus
commemorated on 'his' bridge at
the end of Wollestraat.