Beautiful and Belgium are not two words that you often hear uttered in the same breath.

For some the small country north east of France will be more commonly associated with war, EU bureaucracy and an uninspiring flat farmscape.

They clearly have not been to Bruges, a timeless magical city that has to be one of Europe’s most beautiful.

From the glorious stepped gables on the medieval redbricked roofs to the winding silvery waterways which reflect the cobbled carriageways, this is a place which makes pictures and postcards look dull and uninspiring.

But for various reasons, it has almost remained a bit of a secret.

Then along came the Euro Tunnel and a cult film starring Colin Farrell and the city is finally getting the attention it deserves.

Sitting less than two hours on the road from the French side of the rail crossing, getting to this Belgian beauty is easy.

With just a half page of directions to follow, you can zoom off the train in the comfort of your own car, get straight on to the motorway and not come out of fifth gear again until you can see the medieval spires of your host city.

At the heart of it all is the Belfort, or the bell tower, which stands tall and proud at one end of the main square, the markt.

A chance to clamber up to the top is a must for any visitor (eight euros).

Be warned, the journey up 366 steps to the summit of the lean 13th century monument is not easy – but the views are extraordinary, as are the recently-updated mechanics of the bell ringing.

Close your eyes for a few brief seconds and all you can hear are the bells ringing, the chatter of thousands down below and horse hooves clip-clopping on the cobbled streets – it’s the soundtrack of years gone by, the time when Bruges was one of the richest cities in the known world.

It’s wealth came about from the cloth trade, when the towns of west Flanders lay at the heart of international trade routes across Europe.

But as the known world got bigger and other countries industrialised, the city states of the Low Countries became embroiled in wars and infighting.

Even the creation of Belgium in 1830 did nothing to ease these tensions.

But somehow – despite war raging around it for most of the last 500 years – the centre of Bruges has remained untouched.

Highlights include a 12th century hospital, the Begijnhof convent and a series of vast places of worship – all of which are best seen from a guided canal boat tour (eight euros).

As night draws in, the city becomes beautifully illuminated – and strolling around it’s easy to see why Belgians describe the whole centre as an open-air museum.

But it’s away from the sights that you get a true taste of Bruges.

Chocolate, waffles and beer are in abundance, sometimes all served at the same time.

Even if you’re not a fan of the former, a trip to a beer hall is a must.

Among the finest are ‘t Brugs Beertje, which boasts more than 300 types, and De Garre, a medieval inn tucked away on the city’s smallest street.

For those who want to learn more about the art of beer making then a tour of De Halve Maan brewery is possible.

And to soak up the beer, Bruges has plenty of places to tuck into some hearty fare.

Casseroles, red meat and moules dominate the menu – all served with frites.

But a word of warning – if you’ve got a place in mind when visiting during peak time, do book in advance as the more reasonably-priced family-run places get filled up quickly.

With all that indulging you need a comfortable base and Hotel Navarra is an excellent choice.

Housed in a former 17th century royal mansion, the building is 100 metres from the square.

Tastefully decorated into a place where old effortlessly meets new, once you’re inside the gated surrounds you could be out in the country as there’s virtually no noise.

The rooms are comfortable and spacious and if you want some downtime, there’s a wellness suite with indoor pool, gardens to enjoy and a cosy jazz bar.

There’s plenty of car parking too which means you won’t have far to carry all the beer and chocolate to your vehicle for the journey home.

Which is just as well as once you’ve had a taste of this timeless city, you’ll want to take back a bit for all your friends and family to enjoy.

And if anyone asks, you can tell them that Belgium – and Bruges – really is beautiful.

Factfile

To do a similar trip (before November 24, 2015) staying at Hotel Navarra which currently has a third night offer, the trip would cost:

From £159 pp self-drive, travelling with P&O Ferries from Dover to Calais or from £173 pp self-drive, travelling with Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais or from £217 pp by Eurostar.