What
BrugesTourist Information
BeguinageThe Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaarde with its whitewashed housefronts, tranquil
convent garden and beguinage museum was founded in 1245. Today the nuns of
the Order of Saint Benedict inhabit the site.
What
BrugesTourist Information
Diamond MuseumThis museum illustrates the history of Bruges as the oldest diamond centre in
Europe. Today, diamond remains one of Belgium’s most important export products.
The daily demonstration of diamond cutting is a sparkling affair.
What
BrugesTourist Information
AlmshousesGodshuizen (almshouses) appeared in the 14th century. Wealthy families built
houses for poor and needy widows and widowers. Sometimes the houses were
built by corporations or guilds, for their members in need. Most of the time these
houses form a complex around an inner court where the people of the complex
could get their water and grow vegetables in the little gardens. Most complexes also
have a chapel where the inhabitants were supposed to pray for the souls of their
benefactors. In most 'Godshuizen' the poor inhabitants also received food and
basic care
What
BrugesTourist Information
Brewery De Halve Maan‘Brugse Zot’ is the pride of the traditional brewery ‘De Halve Maan’, whose earliest
reference dates back to 1546. It is a tasty beer of high fermentation made of malt,
hops and yeast. If you wish to learn more about the production process and the
history of the brewery, you can join a guided tour and try the beer.
What
BrugesTourist Information
Blacksmith's GateThe first Smedenpoort dates from the period 1297-1299, when the new (or second)
ramparts were built. The gate was repaired in 1337-1338 by Jan van Biervliet. The
existing gate - built on part of the remains of the original version - was constructed
in 1367-1368 by Mathias Saghen and Jan Slabbaert. They were asked by the city
council to carry out this work "in the style of the Boeveriepoort", which they had just
completed. The same design would also be used for the Ezelpoort. The gate
underwent many changes in the centuries which followed. The upper chamber was
replaced in 1615 and in 1909 a passageway for pedestrians was made in the
northern tower. A cafe - in het Poortershuis (The Gatekeeper's Lodge) - was housed
in the southern tower from the end of the 19th until the beginning of the 20th
century. On 8 September 1944, the day of the city's liberation at the end of the
Second World War, the retreating Germans blew up the bridge across the rampart
moat, causing serious damage to the gate. As a result, extensive repairs were
carried out in 1948. This occasion was used to create a second passageway in the
southern tower. A further restoration of the brickwork is planned for 2006. There is a
bronze skull mounted above the left-hand passageway. This is a reminder of the
execution of François Vander Straeten at the end of the 17th century. His attempt to
allow hostile French troops to enter the city through the Smedenpoort was foiled by
loyal citizens and he died on the execution scaffold. His decapitated head was
displayed on the gate as a warning to others and was later replaced by a bronze
replica.
What
BrugesTourist Information
Donkey's gateThe Ezelpoort was built during the construction of the second ring of ramparts in
1297. It was rebuilt in 1369 to a new design by Jan Slabbaerd and Mathias Saghen,
who were also responsible for the construction of the Boeveriepoort and the
Smedenpoort. Various alterations were carried out between the 14th and 17th
centuries. The lower section of the brick gate is authentic, but the old medieval gate
was much higher. The original appearance of the gate was significantly altered in the
17th century, following the removal of the top part of the structure. In 1901 City
Architect Charles Dewulf drew up a restoration plan, based on iconographic and
other archive sources, with the aim of returning the Ezelpoort to its original appear-
ance. The proposal was discussed by the city council, but rejected. Restoration
work was eventually carried out in 1906, aimed at preserving the existing situation.
The most recent restoration dates from 1991-1993.
What
BrugesTourist Information
Great Seminary BrugesA unique place with a lush orchard and meadows with cows at pasture. Between
1628 and 1642 a new Cistercian abbey was erected here, which later on would
achieve great fame for the wealth and erudition of its occupants. During the French
Revolution the abbey was brought under public ownership, and the abbot and
monks were chased away. The 17th-century abbey buildings were first used as a
military hospital and then as a military depot and a grammar school before they
were eventually taken over by the Great Seminary in 1833. Up to the present day
the Seminary has been training catholic priests here.v
What
BrugesTourist Information
Choco-StoryThe museum dips its visitors in the history of cocoa and chocolate. From the Maya
and the Spanish conquistadores to the chocolate connoisseurs of today. A choco-
late hunt gives children the chance to discover the museum. Chocolates are made
by hand and sampled on the premises.
What
BrugesTourist Information
Museum of the Basilica of the Holy BloodThis double chapel consists of the Romanesque church of Saint Basil (1139-1149)
on the ground floor and the Basilica on the first floor, rebuilt in Gothic revival style in
the 19th century. The Relic of the Holy Blood is kept in the Basilica.
What
BrugesTourist Information
Saint Saviour's CathedralBruges' oldest parish church (12th-15th century). Worth seeing are the gobelins,
mausoleums in the choir, rood-loft with organ (1619-1717), choir stalls and numer-
ous fine paintings. Cathedral ’s treasury: Paintings by, among others, Dirk Bouts,
Hugo van der Goes, manuscripts, copper memorial plaques and silver and gold
artefacts.
What
Bruges Day 2Tourist Information
HospitaalmuseumThe St. John’s Hospital (now Memling in Sint-Jan - Hospital Museum) is one of the
oldest preserved hospital buildings in Europe. The museum gives a moving impres-
sion of what life was like in a medieval hospital ward. Numerous pieces of furniture,
silverwork, pewter, paintings, statues, etc. evoke images of the care of bodies and
souls that took place right here, throughout the centuries. The hospital chapel is a
virtual monument to the artistic genius of Hans Memling. This 15th-century artist
created many of his greatest works for the St John’s Hospital, including his famous
St. Ursula Shrine. In the attic, visitors can admire one of the oldest monumental roof
truss systems in the world, while the old apothecary chamber and the herb garden
are also well worth a visit.
What
Bruges Day 2Tourist Information
GruuthuseThe opulent palace of the lords of Gruuthuse include splendid tapestries, a unique
prayer chapel, a five-centuries-old kitchen and a collection of objects illustrating
daily life between the 15th and the 19th century, from everyday kitchen ware to
superb silverware.
What
Bruges Day 2Tourist Information
ArenthusIn this elegant 18th-century town house with its picturesque garden the work of the
versatile British artist Frank Brangwyn (1867-1956) is on display on the top floor.
Brangwyn’s talent as an architect, painter and designer of glassware, furniture and
jewellery is breathtaking. The ground floor is the setting for temporary plastic art
exhibitions.
What
Bruges Day 2Tourist Information
Groeninghe MuseumThis museum offers a rich and fascinating array of (primarily) Belgian artworks.
Highlights include the world-famous collection of works by the Flemish Primitives,
paintings by various Renaissance and Baroque masters, several interesting pieces
from the Neo-classical and Realistic periods of the 18th and 19th centuries,
milestones from the Symbolist and Modernist movements, masterpieces by the
Flemish Expressionists and a varied selection of Post-1945 modern art. Artists such
as Bram Bogart, Hieronymus Bosch, Jean Brusselmans, Petrus Christus, Emile
Claus, Gerard David, Paul Delvaux, Gustave De Smet, James Ensor, Fernand
Khnopff, René Magritte, Hans Memling, Constant Permeke, Pieter Pourbus, Roger
Raveel, Hugo van der Goes, Rogier van der Weyden, Gustave van de Woestyne,
Jan van Eyck, Rik Wouters and many others are all exhibited in regularly changing
displays.
What
Bruges Day 2Tourist Information
Groeninghe MuseumNo visit is complete without a boat trip on the famous canals of Bruges. Floating
down the canals, you will discover the city from a completely different angle. Indeed,
some beauty spots are only accessible by water.
What
Bruges Day 2Tourist Information
St Anne's ChurchThe tiny square is dominated by the apparently simple church of Saint Anne. Her
exterior may be austere, her interior on the other hand is one of Bruges’ most
splendid baroque examples. As this neighbourhood gradually went upmarket, so
did the church, naturally!