Two Medieval Legends: A Shameful White Cap and a Lakeside Romance

You think Belgium is only about chocolate and the Manneken Pis? In fact, on that ancient land, there are two vivid medieval legends waiting to be discovered—— 🏰 The Tale of Ghent: Rebels and the Humorous Revolt of the "White Caps" Ghent is no "obedient" city. On the contrary, its soul is rebellious and free. 📖 Story One: "The White Cap Incident" – The Shame and Twist of the Proudest Citizens In the 16th century, Belgium was under Spanish rule. Emperor Charles V was born in Ghent, but that didn’t mean he would go easy on his "hometown folks." One year, the citizens of Ghent refused to pay heavy taxes (they believed even a king couldn’t take away their livelihood!). Enraged, the emperor led troops into the city to suppress the rebellion. He ordered all Ghent rebels—including nobles and merchants—to wear white nightcaps (a symbol of shame) and parade barefoot through the streets. This became a historical humiliation for Ghent, but instead of hiding it, they did the opposite: Today, during festivals, Ghent residents "voluntarily wear white caps" in parades, turning humiliation into a humorous mockery of oppression 🎭 ➡️ 【Isn’t this the European version of "laughing in the face of fate"?】 Recommended Experience: During the Ghent Festival (Gentse Feesten, July), you can see the whole city drinking, dancing, and wearing caps for hilarious street parades—like a time-traveling party 🎉 The Gravensteen Castle exhibition even displays the actual punishment tools from that era, chillingly real! 🌉 The Tale of Bruges: Love and Art, with Undercurrents Beneath the Serenity Bruges looks like a fairy-tale painting, but its history holds love and loss. 📖 Story Two: The Past and Present of the "Lake of Love" Legend has it that the Minnewater (Lake of Love) is named after a woman called Minna. Minna fell in love with a warrior from another tribe, but her family forced her to marry a wealthy local man. To escape, she fled into the forest and hid for days, eventually dying of thirst by the lake. Her heartbroken lover found her and, overwhelmed with grief, buried her by the lake. Since then, it has been called "Minnewater"—meaning "Minna’s Lake"—a place symbolizing unwavering love. ➡️ 【Doesn’t it feel like a "Romeo and Juliet" story?】 Recommended Experience: Take your partner for a lakeside stroll—it’s incredibly romantic (locals say proposals happen here ✨). At sunset, the lake glows gold—one of the most healing scenes I’ve ever photographed. 📖 Bonus: Bruges’ "Sleep" and Revival In the late 16th century, Bruges lost its trading prominence due to a silted-up harbor, freezing the city in time. But it was precisely this "forgotten" state that preserved its medieval streets, bridges, and architecture—making it one of Europe’s best-preserved ancient cities today! Walking Bruges’ cobblestone paths, you’ll feel like the world has hit pause. 📌 Closing Thoughts: Beyond fleeting photo ops, I’d rather remember these little stories of the cities. Because only by knowing them can you understand: 👉 Ghent’s "white caps" are a humorous defiance, 👉 Bruges’ "Lake of Love" is a tender sorrow. And isn’t that why we fall in love with travel?