Bruges Hotels Guide: Places to visit in Bruges
Bruges is packed full of wonderful museums, churches and other attractions which are all well worth a visit. Principle amongst these are:
Market Square (Grote Markt )
The market square is the medieval commercial centre of the city. The magnificent Belfry and Cloth Hall are on the north side the Provincial Court and the rest of the square is occupied by restaurants and cafes located in what were once guild houses. Statues of Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck, who were leading figures fighting against the French occupation in 1302, stand in the centre of the square. More....
Belfry (Belfort)
The bell tower,which dates back to the 13th century, stands in the Markt and is over 80 metre high. At the top of the 366 steps are beautiful views over the city with its skyline of spires and domes. The second storey of the tower, once a former medieval treasure room, is now a museum. More....
City Hall (Stadhuis)
The 14th century building is the oldest town hall in Flanders and certainly one of the most beautiful. See the stunning Gothic Hall with its beautiful vaulted ceiling. The historic wall paintings depicting the city's history were added in the late 19th century during the hall's restoration. More...
Basilica of the Holy Blood (Heiligbloed Basiliek)
See the 12th Century Lower and Upper Chapels. The Upper Chapel houses the treasured relic of the Holy Blood, a crystal phial containing a few drops of Christ's blood, brought back around 1200 from the Holy Land after the Second Crusade. The phial is exhibited every Friday. The adjacent museum contains a collection of religious vestments, paintings and artefacts. More....
The Church of Our Lady (Onze Lieve Vrouwkere)
The 13th century church with it's impressive tower was built over three hundred years in a mixture of different styles. In the eighteenth century the church was changed once more to the style of the day. The church now houses an impressive collection of art works of which Michelangelo's, Madonna and Child is without a doubt the most important, and is the only sculpture by the great Italian artist to be found in the Low Countries. In the choir are the grandiose mausoleums of Charles the Bold and his daughter, Mary of Burgundy, along with some remarkable painted tombs. More....
St Saviours Cathedral (St Salvator Kathedral)
Bruges' oldest parish church was started in the 10th century was destroyed by fire, rebuilt and then altered in the 13th and 14th centuries. It was made a Cathedral in the 19th century when another fire destroyed the roof. There are several paintings, beautiful wall tapestries and medieval tombs. More....
Beguine Convent (Begijnhof)
Originally founded in 1245 by the Countess of Flanders, Margaret of Constantinople, The convent was a haven for the beguines (lay nuns). It is now monastery for Benedictine nuns. The centre piece is a row of pretty white houses around a beautifully kept lawn. One of the houses is a museum dedicated to the beguine's old way of life. More....
Minnewater Park (Lake of Love)
Found at the entrance to the Beguinage, this lovely park used to be a dock for the barges which operated between Bruges and Ghent. Stroll along the charming paths by the lake and watch the swans pass by. More...
Lace Centre (Kantcentrum)
A museum and workshop in lovely old almhouses. The work shop has demonstrations of lace making and the museum is dedicated to the history of lace with examples of skilled lace work on display. Souvenirs can be had in the museum's shop. The Brangwynmuseum on the first floor is dedicated to the work of the British artist Frank Brangwyn who was born in Bruges and later returned to paint and sketch the city. More...
Brewery De Halve Maan - Brewery Straffe Hendrik
The current owners have been brewing beer here since 1856 but the brewery dates from 1564. The brewery is famous for it's Straffe Handrick (Strong Henri) beer and there are guided tours through the brewery and museum with a chance to sample the beer. you can also enjoy a glass of ale and a meal in the brewery's pub. More...
Brewery De Gouden Boom - The Brewery Museum
This brewery brews beers such as Brugs Tarwebier and Brugse Tripel and the museum details the history of brewing in Bruges. You can also sample one of the famous beers at the end of a thirst making tour. More...
Groeninge Museum
This is the principle art museum of the city with a collection of Flemish masterpieces by Van Eyck, Memling, Pieter Brueghel the Elder and Pieter Brueghel the Younger. Also see a work by Hieronymous Bosch called The Last Judgement which depicts the grim trials that await sinners in the afterlife. Works by René Magritte and Marcel Broodthaers represent modern artists. More...
Gruuthuse Museum
The Gruuthuse Museum is housed in a beautifully restored 15th century palace and contains a variety of decorative artefacts representing life in Bruges from the Middle Ages. The house was once owned by a family who sold gruut, a mixture of herbs, flowers and barley used in brewing to improve the flavour of beer. More...
Diamantmuseum ( Diamond Museum )
Learn about the history of diamond-polishing in Bruges. The museum houses a selection of tools, equipment and archival material used in an industry which was well established in Bruges long before Antwerp became a major diamond polishing centre. More...
Memling Museum
Located in the chapel of the former Sint Janshospital ( St John's Hospital ) the Memling Museum contains some of the works donated by Hans Memling to this 15th century hospital. Born in Germany , Hans Memling lived and worked in Bruges and became strongly associated with the town. More...
Museum voor Volkskunde ( Municipal Folklore Museum )
The folklore museum can be found in the whitewashed cottages of the former almshouse of the Shoemakers' Guild. In addition to all manner of domestic implements, furniture, clothes, toys and lace there are replicas of a cobbler's workshop, a hatter's workshop and a pharmacy showing the lives of ordinary 19th century people and craftsmen. The museum also has its own bar called De Zwarte Kat (the Black Cat) which was set up in 1894 by a local social and cultural society to copy the Parisian cabaret bar called also called Le Chat Noir (the Black Cat). More...
