The TRAVELER'S JOURNAL: November thirtieth, visiting Europe's latest capitals of culture.

Each year since 1985, the European Union has designated different cities as capitals of culture. Two superb candidates have been selected for 2002. Here are quick previews.

An hour's train ride west of Brussels, the old city of Bruges, Belgium is a maze of cobblestone streets surprisingly unaltered by the passage of time. The network of canals that lace through and around its inner city has given Bruges a reputation as "Venice of the north," and it has retained much of its medieval architecture and old-world charm. During 2002, the city's new concert hall will host a steady stream of dance, theater and music, from Musica Antiqua to Modern Jazz. Among a range of artistic events, the Groeningen Museum will host a special exhibition of the work of a Bruges native, Jan Van Eyck.

History also has a long memory in Salamanca, a city in the highlands of west central Spain, 100 miles from Madrid. A Roman outpost captured by Hannibal in 222 B.C., Salamanca was ruled by the Visigoths and Moors before Christian forces prevailed in the late 11th century. Since then, Salamanca has been shaped by religion and scholarship, its skyline still dominated by the spires of its two cathedrals and university buildings, all crafted from golden stone.

Fittingly, Salamanca celebrates its year in Europe's cultural spotlight with a historical theme. In addition to a range of music and art, its museums will host a series of off-beat exhibitions. One titled "A Measure of Time" will feature hundreds of ancient clocks. Another focuses on fascinating gadgets, a third the sounds of yesteryear, while "To Eat or Not" explores the art of food.

FMI For further information on Bruges, www.brugge2002.be.com or www.brugge.be or the Belgium Tourist Office 212-758-8130 or www.visitbelgium.com

For information on Salamanca: www.salamanca2002.com or www.okspain.com

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