Bruges
It used to be held that Bruges, Ghent, and Antwerp, which played such an important economic role in the Middle Ages and after, developed in the early mediaeval era. Now it is claimed that these three cities grew up from Gallo-Roman vici. The proof is there in the case of Ghent and Antwerp, but for Bruges all the evidence is a large number of scattered finds from the Roman period made here and there in the city. However, in 1899 a fairly large Gallo-Roman settlement was uncovered at the N city limit, in the area called Fort-Lapin. Excavation was unsystematic and it is impossible to tell exactly what kind of a settlement it was. Then in 1965 an important stratum from the Roman period was struck while repair work was being done at the Burg in the heart of the mediaeval city but excavation was not possible. Thus it would seem that Bruges also owes its origin to a Roman settlement. In antiquity it was linked by road to Oudenburg (to the SW), Aardenburg (to the NE), Ganda (Ghent) and Antwerp (to the SE and E).
BIBLIOGRAPHYM. Bauwens-Lesenne, Bibliografisch repertorium der oudheidkundige vondsten in Westvlaanderen (1963) 11-19.
S. J. DE LAET