Lissewege, Belgiums hidden gem

Hidden in West Flanders, near Bruges, you can find the village Lissewege, once chosen as one of the ten most beautiful villages of Flanders. This village used to be a resting place for pilgrims on their journey to Santiago de Compostella. Nowadays you can enjoy the atmosphere of the white buildings, and the fact that you are away from bigger touristic spots. Unlike Bokrijk (open air museum) this is an actual small town where people still live.

The church

Except for the church (as in every Belgian town) there aren't really buildings you can enter to see how the inside looks like, since people still live in the houses. But if you like walking and spending your day relaxing in the sun in a small and lovely town, then this is the place for you. With its small streets and houses it has kept its past authenticity. There is a story saying that, a long time ago, there were storms; people from the town lit up a fire on top of the church, so ships wouldn't crash and lead them safely to a harbour. This is however a myth, and surely never happened.

And of course if you walk around the entire day, then you need to take a break and eat a typical Belgian pancake with some whipped cream and ice cream. The pancakes have been approved and are delicious :).

The battle of the Spurs

You can also admire the statue of the monk Willem van Saeftinghe in this village. It is said that during the Battle of the Spurs in 1302, he pulled the leader of the French troops out of his horse, who was then killed by other combatants. History says that he was a big and very strong man, he drove to the battlefield by horse, where he changed his horse for a mace, sword or a spear.

A perfect spot to enjoy a good sunny day. The perfect place to recharge your inner batteries before heading out to the big cities once again.