MINNEWATERPARK
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The Lake of Love Park, the most romantic place in the city, with a lake that served as a commercial basin for barges
The Parc du Lac d'Amour is certainly the city's most romantic spot, an invitation to daydream. It's hard to imagine that from 1614, when the Bruges-Ghent canal was built, to the end of the 19th century, the lake served as a commercial basin for barges providing regular transport between the two cities. The literal translation of Minnewater would be the lake (water) of Love, to be compared with the German Minnesänger, troubadour, literally "singer of love". This corresponds to the current atmosphere of the lake. However, in the Middle Ages, this basin was Bruges' bustling inland port, crowded with ships unloading their cargo. Minnewater is therefore probably a distortion of Binnenwater, where binnen means "inside", i.e. the inner basin.
Stop at the little bridge and, in keeping with tradition, make a wish in memory of Minna and Morin's ill-fated love affair. The two young men loved each other, but Minna's father didn't want her to marry Morin. Minna ran away. When Morin found her, it was to catch her last breath. Mad with grief, he built a dam and drained the river to bury Minna. Once done, he broke the dam and the waters buried his beloved's body. Next to the bridge stands the Powder Tower, a former ammunition depot.
At the other end of the lawn, pass through the second gate and turn left, towards the Minnewater, already visible in the distance before entering the beguinage.
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