Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Login or Signup

Get the App

Login or Signup

Discover
Places to see
Belgium
Flanders
West Flanders
Bruges
Brugge

Gouden-Handrei Canal, Bruges

Highlight (Segment) • River

Gouden-Handrei Canal, Bruges

Recommended by 34 cyclists out of 35

Cycling is not permitted along parts of this segment

You'll need to dismount and push your bike.

Save

Share

  • More

  • Save

    Share

  • More

  • Take Me There

    Routes here

    Top cycling routes to Gouden-Handrei Canal, Bruges

    4.6

    (33)

    5,051

    riders

    1. Schellemolen Windmill, Damme – Damse Vaart Canal loop from Hoeke

    31.1km

    01:48

    40m

    40m

    Hard bike ride. Great for any fitness level. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

    Navigate

    Send to Phone

    Hard

    Hard bike ride. Great for any fitness level. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

    Hard

    Hard bike ride. Good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

    Hard

    Tips

    December 31, 2017

    Long ago, when the Golden Handrei was still called Saint-Gillisreitje, the water of the bridge channels was so pure that it was swarming with fish. Perch, bream, pike, carp, roach, cole and eel. You just had to eject a net or a wire and a few minutes later you already had a bite. There was also a lot of fishing in the canals. But, as was well known, it would be better to stay away from eels. Eel has something like a snake. Moreover, it is buried for most of the day to emerge at night. So the animal had to be possessed by the devil. There was an unwritten law prohibiting eel fishing. You better do not bring the devil out of the water ... Well, there was a man, they say, he came from Lissewege, who paid little attention to these laws and traditions.
    One night he laid a trap in the Saint-Gilles train. The next morning he picked her up full of writhing eels. His eyes glittered with pleasure as they saw so many delicious fish. His wife would make a nice pot out of it. They would not have to fear a hungry stomach for several days.
    But to his surprise, he saw that a beautiful golden eel wiggled among the others. Inquisitive, he pulled the fuse even higher to lift the eel on dry land. Until suddenly a strong, golden hand rose from the water. He grabbed the man by the ankle and dragged him into the water. Never has anyone heard of the poor bastard and since then the inhabitants of Lisseweg are referred to as scornful "eel catcher".
    Since then, at night, in the light of the moon, a glowing golden hand, from which a golden eel spun, could rise from the water.
    It was as if the devil himself warned the fishermen not to fish for eels. It was not possible because since that day all the eels disappeared from the Reien and she never returned.
    To commemorate this weird incident, a hand lifting an eel across the water was cut into bluestone. This stone is still on the south side of the bridge, which has since been called the Golden Hand Bridge. And the Sint-Gillisreitje?
    That became the Golden Handrei. And the Sint-Gillisnieuwstraete became the Gouden-Handstraat.
    brugselegenden.blogspot.de/2014/10/de-legende-van-de-gouden-paling.html

    Translated by Google •

      December 31, 2017

      The Golden Handrei was originally named "Saint-Gilles" after the parish of Saint-Gilles in the north. Later, after 1700, the Rei was named after a house in the Gouden-Handstraat.

      The Golden Handrei is part of the first Bruges city wall and was dug in 1127-1128 together with the Smedenrei, the Speelmansei and the Augustijnenrei. Possibly the water and perhaps partly the bed of the stream, albeit unsightly, could be used. In 1270, the Golden Handrei was deepened along with the other indoor units to enable shipping. Until the beginning of the 20th century, ships that moored regularly on the golden hand and the golden hand bridge were a swing bridge.
      nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gouden-Handrei

      Translated by Google •

        In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

        Sign up for free

        Details

        Informations

        Distance 205 m

        Uphill 0 m

        Downhill 20 m

        Weather

        Powered by AerisWeather

        Today

        Saturday 15 November

        15°C

        10°C

        10 %

        If you start your activity now...

        Max wind speed: 2.0 km/h

        Most visited during

        January

        February

        March

        April

        May

        June

        July

        August

        September

        October

        November

        December

        Loading

        Location: Brugge, Bruges, West Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

        Other Popular Places to Check Out

        Provincial Palace Bruges

        Explore
        RoutesRoute plannerFeaturesHikesMTB TrailsRoad cycling routesBikepacking
        Download the app
        Follow Us on Socials

        © komoot GmbH

        Privacy Policy