Sometimes a title needs to grab your attention…
Over the past few months I visited Bruges several times which allowed me to explore Bruges in a different way instead of a typical tourist tour. Inspired by Patrick Wouters' lectures on the meridian lines, I did some research before my visit.
According to various information, there are Belgian meridian lines in Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Dendermonde, Aalst, Lier, Mechelen and one in Bruges.
In Bruges we find the meridian line on the market place, Grote Markt. The meridian line itself is visualized by a row of copper plates in the ground over a length of 65 meters. According to the literature, this is not the original line applied by Adolphe Quetelet. It is not even clear whether there has ever been a “line”.
On the “true noon” a replica copper-colored sphere casts its shadow on this meridian line. This 50 cm large sphere stands on top of the mansion "Huis Bouchoute" (1480) which today houses Brasserie "Meridian 3".