Hotel de Orangerie Bruges

In its current incarnation, this former Carthusian convent dating from the 15th century has turned out to be a most luxurious and romantic boutique hotel.

Situated in the cultural and historic heart of Bruges, along ‘De Dijver’ canal. The Orangerie is also part of the ‘Small Luxury Hotels Of The World ‘, the world’s most luxurious hotels. Breath the history, enjoy the comfort!

Hotel de Orangerie, located in the heart of Bruges and walking distance from the shops and historical sites, is a renovated 15th-century convent. Situated in a charming cityscape on the banks of the picturesque Dijver canal.

Like a true oasis of elegance, Hotel de Orangerie is overflowing with engravings, old paintings, tapestries, silk curtains and antiques, all of which lend it a beautiful, nostalgic charm.

The combination of antique furniture and the contemporary, pastel-tinted interior lends the hotel a cosy yet fresh and modern allure. Hence it deserves it’s place on list of ‘Small Luxury Hotels Of The World’ (SLH)

Enjoy a breakfast or an English Afternoon Tea basking in the sun on the terrace overlooking the water, warm and cosy in the oak dining room or relaxing in a chair by the fireplace. View the sites from on-board a canal boat or in a horse-drawn carriage before taking a seat at one of the many gourmet restaurants that Bruges has to offer.

THE HISTORY
The origins of this luxurious hotel stretch all the way back to 1580, when the Carthusians settled here. During the centuries that followed, the nuns of the Carthusian Order enlarged their humble quarters into a sizeable cloister.

In 1783, the cloister was abolished. The convent buildings soon fell into disrepair. The governing body of the church tried for some time to breathe new life into the buildings by bringing together several sisters here in 1790. Six years later, the curtain finally fell when the French shut down the convent.

In the 19th century, the Zusters van Liefde (Sisters of Love) from Ghent occupied the old Carthusian convent. After that, the historical complex was used as a carriage house, as a private home and later as a tearoom. It was only in the second half of the 1980’s that is was converted into a hotel.

ROOMS & SUITES
Each of our 20 rooms is unique in its size and decoration. Each and every room boasts the most modern comforts, including air conditioning, Wi-Fi and flatscreen television.

THE BREAKFAST
Enjoy an extensive, Continental breakfast in our opulent breakfast room or on our spacious terrace overlooking the canals. Between 8:00 and 10:30, we treat you to a wide assortment of warm and cold dishes.

You can choose between our DAILY BREAKFAST, ORANGERIE BREAKFAST or A LA CARTE MENU. When your room rate includes breakfast, we serve you the Daily Breakfast.

SALON
Catch your breath in our ravishingly beautiful salon with its fireplace hearth and a view of the ‘Dijver’ canal. Enjoy this relaxed and homey atmosphere, and choose from a wide selection of drinks, served to you with the greatest of care.

Like a true oasis of elegance, Hotel de Orangerie is overflowing with engravings, old paintings, tapestries, silk curtains and antiques, all of which lend it a beautiful, nostalgic charm. The combination of antique furniture and the contemporary, pastel-tinted interior lends the hotel a cosy yet fresh and modern allure. A requirement to be part of the Small Luxury Hotels.

THE OUTDOOR TERRACE
On our spacious terrace, right next to ‘De Dyver’, one of the most beautiful and well-known canals in Bruges, you can bask in the sun while enjoying the splendour and glory of the historical city centre. With an invigorating coffee, Afternoon Tea or an aperitif of your choosing.

THE AFTERNOON TEA
Surprisingly enough, Afternoon Tea, that most English of rituals, is a relatively new tradition. Although the custom of drinking tea in China dates back to the third millennium before Christ and was popularized in England in the 1660’s by King Charles II and his wife, the Portuguese Infanta Catherine de Braganza, the concept of Afternoon Tea only arose in the middle of the 19th century.

Afternoon Tea was introduced by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in 1840. The Duchess always seemed to get hungry around 4 o’clock. In her household, the evening meal was served quite late, at 8 o’clock to be exact.

So many hours between lunch and the evening meal would make anyone hungry. So the Duchess starting asking that a tray with tea, bread, butter (by this time, the Earl of Sandwich had already come up with the idea of placing a filling between two slices of bread) and cake be brought to her room in the late afternoon.

This became a habit, and soon enough she started inviting friends to join her in this ritual. This tea break became a hip, social event. In the 1880’s, the upper class ladies stepped out in long dresses, gloves and hats for Afternoon Tea, which was served in the salon, or sitting room, between 4 and 5 o’clock.

The traditional Afternoon Tea includes a selection of fine breads and scones served with clotted cream and jam. Cakes and pastries are also served. Tea is carefully poured from silver teapots into delicate porcelain teacups.

DISCOVER BRUGES
Bruges is a city that goes straight to your heart. A wonder on a human scale, yet always remaining somewhat inscrutable. Glorious because of its history and crowned by Unesco as a World Heritage Site. Mediaeval mysterious, unabashedly exuberant and a centuries-old metropole.

Bruges is a gourmet Mecca and is on the map with an impressive list of first-class restaurants. There are several restaurants in the city with a Michelin star and more than 30 restaurants with Bib Gourmand and GaultMillau listings. The gourmet scene in Bruges is constantly evolving. Discover many new places to eat while exploring this beautiful, historic UNESCO city.

Rooms: 24

Price: from 123 EUR per night

Source: www.hotelorangerie.be