Korte beschrijving/Annotatie

A visually stunning exploration of Bruges as a global crossroads: where art, trade, and culture shaped a world city

Tekst achterflap

“Bruges is one of the world’s most interesting cities. This book explains how its rich history has been shaped by the movement of people, goods and ideas across continents, from the North Sea to the Mediterranean and far beyond.”
– Peter Frankopan

The story of Bruges reaches far beyond its city walls. From the Middle Ages, it was a place where worlds met: a hub for merchants linking northern Europe to distant maritime routes; a waypoint on the pilgrimages and Crusades that led to the Holy Land; a courtly focus for Europe’s dynastic circles; and a vibrant cultural and artistic centre where masters such as Jan van Eyck, Hans Memling and Gerard David maintained their workshops.

Drawing on remarkable artworks and objects from major collections, this volume explores how Bruges became one of the great crossroads of the medieval and early modern world. Peter Frankopan, Jan Dumolyn and other leading scholars reveal how the city was shaped by movement, exchange and imagination within the bigger picture of a world bound by trade, faith, power and art.

Beschrijving

“Bruges is one of the world’s most interesting cities. This book explains how its rich history has been shaped by the movement of people, goods and ideas across continents, from the North Sea to the Mediterranean and far beyond.”
– Peter Frankopan

The story of Bruges reaches far beyond its city walls. From the Middle Ages, it was a place where worlds met: a hub for merchants linking northern Europe to distant maritime routes; a waypoint on the pilgrimages and Crusades that led to the Holy Land; a courtly focus for Europe’s dynastic circles; and a vibrant cultural and artistic centre where masters such as Jan van Eyck, Hans Memling and Gerard David maintained their workshops.

Drawing on remarkable artworks and objects from major collections, this volume explores how Bruges became one of the great crossroads of the medieval and early modern world. Peter Frankopan, Jan Dumolyn and other leading scholars reveal how the city was shaped by movement, exchange and imagination within the bigger picture of a world bound by trade, faith, power and art.

Slogan/Promotie

A visually stunning exploration of Bruges as a global crossroads: where art, trade, and culture shaped a world city

Connected Worlds of Bruges reveals the city’s long-standing place at the crossroads of global history. Far from being an isolated medieval town, Bruges has always thrived within a vast network of trade routes, cultural exchange, and political ties that stretched far beyond its borders. Through a carefully curated selection of remarkable objects, each a testament to historical encounters across continents, this book tells a rich, mosaic-like story of interconnectedness. It invites readers to explore Bruges from fresh and unexpected angles, shedding light on how local and global dynamics have shaped the city’s evolving identity as a world city.

Published to mark the festive opening of the new art hall BRUSK in Bruges and its opening exhibition Bigger Picture – Connected World of Bruges 900–1550, Belgium, from 8 May until 6 September 2026.

Details