Bruges
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Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country. It is the sixth most populous city in the country.
Image: Brügge Blick vom Belfried 4
Image: Concertgebouwbrugge
Image: Bruges Belgium De groote Hollander Huidenvettersplein 12 03
Image: Zeebrugge Beach R01
County of Flanders
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The County of Flanders was one of the most powerful political entities in the medieval Low Countries, located on the North Sea coast of what is now Belgium. Unlike its neighbours, such as the counties of Brabant and Hainaut, it was within the territory of the Kingdom of France. The counts of Flanders held the most northerly part of the kingdom, and were among the original twelve peers of France. For centuries, the economic activity of the Flemish cities, such as Ghent, Bruges and Ypres, made Flanders one of the most affluent regions in Europe, and also gave them strong international connections to trading partners.
Count Philip (2nd from right) as swordbearer at Philip II's coronation. The count of Flanders was one of the 12 ancient Peers or "equals" of the King of France. (1455 panel painting by Jean Fouquet).
Institution of Baldwin I, the first count of Flanders by Charles the Bald, the Frankish king.
The Gravensteen at Ghent, Built by Philip of Alsace
A Flemish lady and gentleman in the year 1400, illustrated in the manuscript "Théâtre de tous les peuples et nations de la terre avec leurs habits et ornemens divers, tant anciens que modernes, diligemment depeints au naturel". Painted by Lucas d'Heere in the 2nd half of the 16th century. Preserved in the Ghent University Library.