Some parts of Bruges kept their rural character, giving us the opportunity of visiting town and countryside at the very same moment. The old defences that enclosed Bruges obstructed the expansion of the city, and in the 13th century it was decided that a new ring of defences had to be constructed.
The, a bit overenthusiastic, town councillors had a too optimistic idea about the growth of the population in the future, and most of the newly enclosed space was never built-up until the 19th century.
Even then, some parts of Bruges kept their rural aspect into the 21st century. Farm buildings are now a part of the urban landscape, as well as high garden walls and an occasional village street.
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