History
As early as the 2nd - 3rd century there was a Gallo-Roman settlement on the territory that is now Bruges. The inhabitants of this settlement were not only farmers, but also tradespeople who maintained contacts with England and the rest of Gaul.
In the early 9th century our city was given its current name thanks to its trading relations with Scandinavia. It is derived from the old Norwegian word "bryggia", which means "landing site" or "mooring quay". In the middle of that century the counts of Flanders built a safe stronghold on the current Burg.