Hotel Heritage, Relais and Châteaux

Hotel Heritage is the boutique choice for travellers who want luxury on a human scale. It occupies an elegant nineteenth-century mansion on Niklaas Desparsstraat, a quiet side street about fifty metres from the Markt, so the Belfry and the main square are almost on the doorstep while the rooms stay calm. As a member of Relais and Châteaux it is known for personal service, and its interiors mix period features, chandeliers and fabrics with modern comforts. The well-being side is a surprise for a small city-centre hotel: Spa Le Moment by Sothys offers treatments, and the fitness room sits under vaults that date back to the twelfth century. The hotel’s restaurant, Le Mystique, serves local cuisine, and the building has a fourteenth-century wine cellar. It is a favourite for romantic weekends and for travellers who prefer an intimate house to a big hotel.

Location and getting around: you could hardly be more central. The Markt, the Belfry and the Historium are a minute away, the Burg and the Basilica of the Holy Blood about five minutes, and the canal-boat stages and the Groeningemuseum ten. The station is around twenty minutes on foot or a short taxi ride, which is easier with luggage.

The rooms: rooms and suites are individually decorated in a classic style, and those at the back are the quietest. Ask for a larger category if you want space to relax, because older townhouses come in many shapes and sizes.

Who it suits: couples, honeymooners and discerning first-timers who want to walk everywhere and come back to a peaceful, beautifully kept house. It is less suited to families with young children, simply because of its intimate scale.

Good to know: rates are in the upper range for Bruges, and breakfast and parking terms vary by rate, so check at booking. Book spa treatments and dinner in advance, and reserve early for the Christmas market period and spring weekends, when small hotels like this fill first.