The seasons shift in mysterious ways, which reminds me of the early snow we are experiencing this year. Today I woke up to another 4 inches of fresh snow on top of the previous snowfall and the snow was still falling. I had to decide if it was safe to go into work or not. I made a quick call to a colleague who advised that my work place had only a small amount of snow despite the higher altitude. I had no choice other than brave the elements. The roads were pretty poor but navigable and luckily there was hardly any traffic on the roads.

Since 1955, this former palace has been a museum of decorative arts, recalling life as lived – mainly by the high and mighty – in Bruges from the 13th – 19th cebtury, There are 2,500 objects in the house, including paintings, sculptures, musical instruments, lace silk, tapestries, furniture, weapons and glassware. Highlights include the upper-floor oratory, a 1520 bust of the young Charles V and a guillotine (which was used). *

The oratory was my favourite room, the view was quite fascinating:

Lodewijk van Gruuthuses’s oak-panelled Gothic oratory dates from 1472. this is a private chapel that abuts the adjacent Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk, and afforded Lodewijk and his family and undisturbed, overhead view of the altar and the tombs of Duke Charles the Bold of Burgundy and his daughter Duchess Mary. the family’s motto, Plus Est En Vous (There Is More In You), can be seen above an arch in the ornate reception hall. *

*From Insight Guides Bruges – Smart Guide