King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table searched for it... The cup from which Jesus drank wine at the Last Supper and that was later filled with his blood, at Golgotha. Legend says this "Holy Blood", also known as "the Holy Grail" (Sang Real = San Greal = Saint Grail) was brought to Britain, but it has never been found there. Treasure hunters are searching the Holy Grail in places like Glastonbury and that is very strange, because the one and only Holy Blood was found by the Knights Templar and the Count of Flanders on Christmas Day 1148, in the Holy Grave in Jerusalem! They brought it to Bruges, the Venice of the Nord, where you still can see it in the Chapel of the Holy Blood. But some say that it is a false relic, and that the one and only real Holy Grail was hidden somewhere in a house in Bruges. Eat your heart out, Dan Brown!... And do it when Visiting Bruges-la-Morte, a medieval ghost city!

 

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The Stolen Panel of the Mystic Lamb

The polyptych known as "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" was painted in the 15th century by the "Flemish Primitives" Jan and Hubert Van Eyck. It is regarded as one of the artistic highlights of Western civilisation and you can still visit it in the Saint Bavo Cathedral in Ghent, Belgium. But one of the many oak panels is missing: "The Just Judges" was stolen in April 1934. A certain "D.U.A." wrote a letter to the bishop of Ghent, stating he would return the panel if he could receive a "fee" of 1 million Belgian francs. Instead of 1 million francs, the bishop only would pay 25.000 francs... Some months later, Arsène Goedertier collapsed after a speech at a political rally. Before succumbing, he could tell a friend that he was the only man who knew where the stolen painting was situated. He had a file on that crime at home. The police investigated the file and did find something that looked like a code, but could not break the code. If you visit the city of Ghent, make sure you go to the Cathedral of Saint Bavo and see its most treasured piece of art, The Mystic Lamb... with the replica of the Just Judges. The whole story is here, and only during the city game that we organize in Ghent, the invaluable treasure can be found by true treasure hunters:

The Treasure of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

In the spring of 1791, the King of France was a prisoner in his own country.  Marie Antoinette, his wife, begged her brother, the Austrian Emperor, to save them from the revolutionary forces. She wrote her letters in a code that was borrowed from the Prophecies of Nostradamus. In fact they wrote a lot of "new prophecies" that were attributed to Nostradamus, but were meant to communicate with other royalists in order to save the royal family and their "war chest". The royalist general de Bouillé had an army at his disposition in the fortress town of Montmédy, in northern France. Just across the border with the Austrian Netherlands was the Abbey of Orval, a perfectly safe place for Louis XVI and his family. De Bouillé thoroughly prepared the flight of the royal family from the revolutionary Paris, but he couldn't possibly imagine at the moment that Louis, his wife and his children would be arrested in Varennes. The French Revolution would lead Louis and Marie Antoinette to the bloody axe of the guillotine, but the fortune of the Bourbons and the jewels of Marie Antoinette reached the Abbey of Orval... where they disappeared without leaving a trace. 

I wrote a book about the whole story (in Dutch), titled Nostradamus in Orval - but you'll find the highlights here: Nostradamus and the Lost Treasure of the Bourbons.

The Curse of the Superstitions

In many of the legends concerning the Superstition Mountains in Arizona, an Apache curse protects the sacred burial ground and the treasures of the Indians, including the famous Lost Dutchman Gold Mine. According to the author R.G. Babcock, this fabulous treasure was nothing else but the Lost Aztec Treasure of Montezuma. The Legend of the Lost Dutchman goes way back to the 1840's, when a Mexican family developed some gold mines in the Superstition Mountains and was ambushed by Apaches. Two Peralta's escaped, they buried their mines with rocks and since then, numerous treasure maps have surfaced... but all the treasure hunters became the victims of all sort of troubles, caused by the Curse of the Superstitions. In the 1870's, the "Dutchman" Jacob Waltz, who was in fact a German, would have located the mine. He gave the place a name, but he and his partners again had to deal with the Curse of the Superstitions... The whole story starts here: The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine. Or here:

Treasure Island, for real!

Undoubtedly, everybody knows "Treasure Island", the adventure novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, narrating a tale of pirates and gold, buried on an island.  But is this fictional island based on a real place? Sure it is. The German treasure hunter August Gissler used an old treasure map that once belonged to the infamous pirate Benito Bonito, and searched Cocos Island from 1889 to 1909.  Since then, many treasure seekers have visited Cocos Island, among them Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Felix von Luckner, who had a Cocos treasure map tattooed on his thigh. You'll find Cocos Island 400 miles off the Pacific Ocean side of Costa Rica, latitude 5°32'57" N and longitude 87°2'10" W. Or you can make a short TouTube trip here:

Nazi Treasures, The Amber Room

In World War II the Nazis looted many grand houses in Europe and stole countless art treasures. Some are said to be hidden in underground tunnels in the Russian city of Kalingrad (Königsberg). But this city has now been completely rebuilt over the tunnels. The famous "Amber Room" - a whole room decorated with pictures made entirely from semi-precious stones - also got stolen from a palace near Saint Petersburg. It hasn't been seen since 1943 and may have been destroyed in the war. Searches were held on the ground, underground and even underwater. In 2003 it was recreated and unveiled in St. Petersburg. But the real thing is still hidden... and waiting for you!

 

The Gold of Custer's Last Stand

The Battlefield of General George A. Custer's Battle of the Little Big Horn (25 Juni 1876) is now a United States National Monument. Major-General Custer, whom the Indians knew as "Long Hair", was killed alongside his men, almost certainly on what is today known as Last Stand Hill. Just the day before Custer's Last Battle, a supply boat called the "Far West" was making a difficult upstream journey to the junction of Montana's Big Horn and Little Big Horn, for a pre-arranged rendez-vous with Custer's commanding officer General Alfred H. Terry. And about the same time, some fifty miles to the west, a mule-drawn freight wagon from Bozeman, Montana, with a very valuable load of miner's gold was making its way towards Bismarck, North Dakota. The day after the Custer massacre, Captain Marsh of the supply boat discovered he had missed the rendezvous point. He met the badly frightened driver of the freight wagon, who pleaded Marsh to take over the shipment of gold and silver and deliver it to Bismarck, as he seriously doubted his own chances of getting through alive. Marsh agreed, but because of the continued danger from the Indians, the gold was hidden at some suitable spot on shore... and was never retrieved. Read here more!

Bruges has a very compact and mostly pedestrianized city center, it is easy and affordable to get to, and it offers extensive cultural, gastronomic, and sightseeing options. Communication is also stress-free since the locals are all very friendly and fluent in English. In many ways, this Unesco World Heritage town combines the best things about larger and more famous cities such as Paris, Rome and Amsterdam, with an incredibly romantic atmosphere, stunning architecture, and rich history, all neatly packaged in about one square mile.

• Eating: There is great variety in Bruges gastronomy, from top-end French cuisine to the best all-you-can-eat ribs in a relaxed pub environment. I have also researched extensively into the best chocolate shops (it was a tough job, but somebody had to do it), which are an essential part of any Bruges visit.
• Drinking: There are plenty of nice cafes serving a good range of beers in the main tourist areas, but there are also authentic old pubs that seem purposefully hidden away, where you rarely find any tourists and which serve about 300 types of the best beer you will ever taste, and these are the ones that are really worth going to.
• Where to stay: Bruges offers accommodation for every kind of budget, from a Youth Hostel to luxury boutique hotels. I have personal experience of a few but have also spent many hours researching the best deals.
•  How to get there: The easiest way to get to Bruges is to take the extremely reliable and punctual trains. Eurostar Services from London to Brussels cost as little as £42 return, and this includes a connection to any Belgium station. The total journey takes about 3-4 hours. You can also fly to Brussels and get a train to Bruges, which only takes about 50 minutes.
• Tours: You can experience Bruges comfortably on foot, but the boat and carriage tours give you a whole new perspective. Reasonably priced and highly recommended.
• Churches: There are many beautiful churches in Bruges, most notably Our Lady’s Church which houses a Michelangelo sculpture (one of only three outside Italy and the only one of those not in a major museum) and The Chapel of the Holy Blood, in which every Friday the public is allowed to see a relic supposedly containing the blood of Christ.
• Museums and places of interest: Apart from housing impressive collections of fine art in the Groeninge, Gruuthuse and Memling, Bruges also offers museums dedicated to Lacemaking, Brewing, Archery and Diamonds, as well as the wonderful Belfry Tower which offers a birds-eye view of Bruges.

Poland’s second largest city is filled to the brim with beauty and character. Largely undamaged during World War II it has retained all of it medieval charm. It is a great place to stroll around and explore the Old Town and soak up its long and rich history. Dominating the cities skyline is the Royal Castle, situated at the top of Wawel Hill which provides the best views of the city and the Vistula River.

 

Reykjavik

The Icelandic capital is known for its hot weekend nightlife as well as its hot pools. But for those who prefer a quieter time visit one of the interesting galleries, museums and bookshops or just hang out in one of the many coffee shops. With old-fashioned wooden buildings in amongst the modern architecture and breathtaking landscapes Reykjavik is a unique experience.

 

Bruges

This city in the Flemish region of Belgium had its entire town centre designated a World Heritage Site and is often referred to as the “Venice of the North”. It is the home of some of Europe’s best preserved medieval buildings and is easily one of the prettiest cities in Europe with its canals and cobbled streets. Bruges is all about strolling through picturesque streets, sampling the good food and beer and admiring the gorgeous architecture and art.

 

Istanbul

The only city in the world to encompass two continents Istanbul is the gateway between Europe and Asia. This range of cultures is what makes Istanbul such a fascinating and beautiful place to visit. Whether it is admiring the centuries old Ottoman minarets or shopping in the ancient bazaars there is lots to do. And when the sun comes down there is great food and a vibrant nightlife to explore.

 

Budapest

The Capital of Hungary was formed by the joining of hilly Buda on the right bank of the Danube with bustling Pest on the left bank. Budapest’s fascinating history along with its mix of modern architecture and Eastern mystique makes it such an absorbing place to visit. There are over 100 museums, galleries and historic buildings to see but it is the off-beat cafes that are the soul of Budapest with lively music and great food.

 

Stockholm

Perched on 14 islands, the city offers up spectacular views of its quaint waterways and pastel coloured buildings. Despite being famously expensive there are lots of museums and galleries to visit for a fix of culture once you have run out of money shopping in the numerous excellent shopping districts. The beauty of Djurgarden is also not to be missed along with the impressive 18^th century Royal Palace.

 

Vienna

Grandiose Vienna is the world’s classical music capital and the adopted home of Mozart. With its other famous resident being Sigmund Freud this is a city bursting with culture and places of interest to visit. Vienna has plenty of other pleasures too whether it is enjoying a few drinks in one of the plentiful or renowned wine taverns, a walk in the woods or along the river or just bar-hopping till morning.

 

Prague

The “Paris of the East” sits on the banks of the Vltava River and practically defines the word ‘picturesque’. It is easy to lose yourself in a city that was left largely untouched by the Second World War. In both the castle district on the left bank of the river and the Old town on the right you can stroll down narrow medieval streets and courtyards, across cobbled squares and into the many stately buildings.

 

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is cosmopolitan, classy and cultured. You can admire the elegance of the 18^th century New Town, stroll along the Royal Mile or gaze across the city from the parapets of the 16^th century castle. But it is in the summer that Edinburgh truly comes to live when the festival takes place each year, with hundreds of theatre and comedy shows and street entertainers on every street.

 

Seville

The capital of the region of Andalusia has often been overshadowed by Barcelona and Madrid but won’t disappoint. There are enough sights and things to do to wear down the most ardent of travelers. A stroll along the banks of the Guadalquivir river will give you a feel for the romance of historic Seville. And when you are worn out by all the sightseeing relax in one of the many riverside restaurants.

 

The town has often been described as the Western Venice. There are two main truths in this: It has winding streets and waterways creeping throughout the historical city; secondly it contains the same hoards of middle-class tourists sipping their Americano coffees.

However, Bruges is like Venice's younger sister, a little more innocent and cheerful in character. Tourists have not yet infiltrated all its corners, and its beer is undoubtedly of higher quality at less exorbitant prices than Venice. The town is also a refreshing break to the souvenir-ridden virus that sweeps most European tourist hubs. Instead you will find home-made chocolate delicatessen shops spread along the streets - the divine selection of hand crafted treats is enough to send a chocoholic plump with choice.

An Historical Insight

Wander down the narrow lanes for a glimpse back through Bruges' history. Notable sights include the 13th century Belfry, the Beguinage (c1245) and the Groeningemuseum. Most spectacular is the Church of Our Lady, one of the world's highest brick buildings (122 meters) and containing Michelangelo's famous Madonna and Child. This is a must for any cultural buff.

The medieval buildings highlight Bruges' textured past. It rose as an important port and centre of trade within Europe, however struggles with revolts, poverty and war throughout the 13-14 Century saw the downfall of its trade and prosperity. It was not until the 19th Century that Bruges once again saw a rise in wealth by trading in on its art and culture, ultimately capturing the tourist hearts and dollar.

From Diamonds to Dancing

Belgium is world renowned for its diamond trade, with the art of diamond polishing originating within Bruges in the 15th Century. The town contains various jewellery and diamond shops, however if this does not satisfy all your needs, only one hour train ride away is the major centre of the global diamond trade: Antwerp. This town devotes an entire district to diamond shops, and also has "Diamondland," a store that also offers a short tour on the process of transforming a rough cut diamond to a gem.

There is no better way to unwind after an indulging day of chocolate, diamonds and history lessons than settling in for a beer within Bruges' remarkable night scene. You will discover live jazz bars, dance bars, smoky clubs, traditional Belgium pubs, as well the occasional outdoor music concert or festival within the town centre.

The restaurants and bars resting on the water's edge light up the canals and streets, while the walkways become packed with tourists, teens, couples and numerous camera tripods attempting to capture the enticing scenes. Restaurants serve a feast of food, including fresh seafood, Spanish tapas, or my personal favourite: chips, mayonnaise and beer (the Belgium staple).

The Art of Beer

Beer is taken extremely seriously in Belgium, with many restaurants devoting the majority of its menu to in-depth coverage of various local beer varieties. Each brew is served in a specialised glass, at the precise temperature to ensure optimal taste.

I recommend the various cherry and strawberry beers, such as Bellevue and Framboos. A more masculine beer on offer is the Chimay Bleue. This distinctive dark ale was developed by local monks who were dedicated to finding the perfect brew. One should be wary though, at 9% alcohol volume it is better to savour the full flavoured taste, rather than gulp it back like you may a regular beer.

On the whole the locals are friendly and happy to lend their expertise to recommend particular brews. However, is it not always easy to share their jokes as English comes in third after French and Dutch in the national language stakes.

Bruges is a gem within Europe, offering culture, good food and drink all within the realms of every traveller's budget and tastes. The art and culture junkie will get their fix here, as will lovers of beer, chips and live music. The downside of this popular town is the rush of tourists filling the centre squares and restaurants during the popular summer months of July - August. Worse still, is the the inability to trial all the delectable beer varieties in just one weekend.

The Essential Facts:

Getting there: Bruges is a great add-on to any European trip and is well connected by train, plane and bus to all major European capitals. From London the Eurostar has great deals on accommodation and return train fares starting at ₤100 per person.

Getting around: Bruges is small enough to wander around, with numerous cafes, bars and restaurants available for a rest if the walking gets too much. Alternatively, There are taxis and local buses for travel around the city.

Eat: The ultimate Belgium experience is traditional chips and mayonnaise served fresh from the deep fryer

Events:

• Canalside Festival (September 2008): Dancing, music and historical theatrics light up the canal's for this colorful festival.
• Procession of Holy Blood (May 2008): A festival that began in 1150, where a sacred cloth that was stained with the blood of Christ's wounds is paraded through the town.
• Christmas Market (November 2007 - January 2008): An large open-air ice-rink, festive lights, market stalls and plenty of chocolate take over the Central Market Square.
• Jazz Bruges (September 2008): Jazz artists from across Europe put on day and evening Jazz shows
• Coco Laté Festival (April 2008): A town famed for its chocolate puts on a divine show of chocolate sculptures, tasting presentations, walking tours and cocoa massages.

Further Information:

• Official tourist website
• Belgium for Beer Lovers
• Diamond Lovers
• Chimay breweries
• Hotel Accommodation