Tourist attractions Bruges

These two buildings form a lovely arrangement of polished brickwork. The belfry is the largest in Belgium and a symbol of the city of Bruges. It can be seen from miles around next to the other steeples in the city. Its massive tower dates back to t..

This very pleasant boat trip is a great way to see Bruges from another angle; its charm, quietness and romanticism. It is an ideal complement to a tour of the city on foot. At the end of the Spiegelrei (Mirror Embankment), you will see the statue o..

Groeningemuseum houses a wonderful collection of paintings from the 15C to the present day. Its collection of early Flemish painting alone warrants a visit. These masterpieces symbolise the genius of Bruges. On show here are some of the most famous..

This museum occupies the former St John's Hospital, which was built in the 12C. The superbly restored interior displays works of art and objects illustrating a variety of subjects, including the building’s history of hospitals. In the old chapel are ..

Centre of activity in Bruges, Markt is lined with former corporation buildings decorated with long gables, and the covered market, dominated by a high belfry. To the east of the square, you will see two lovely neo-Gothic buildings. The first is the p..

This square is in the heart of Bruges. Four major monuments surround it - the basilica of the Holy Blood, the Gothic Town Hall, the Renaissance Clerk's Office and the former Law Courts. Burg is named after the castle built in the same place by Baudoi..

A peaceful haven not far from a canal and reached via a lovely classical door, the "Beguine convent of the vine" was founded in 1245 by Marguerite of Constantinople, countess of Flanders. This place of prayer is arranged around a large rect..

According to legend, the Basilica of the Holy Blood was built to house the relic of the Blood of Christ brought from the Holy Land during the second crusade. The lower chapel , or St Basil's chapel, is a Romanesque construction from the 12C. Initial..

This 15C Gothic brick palace originally was a building where the "grute" levy was raised, a mixture of dried flowers and plants used for brewing beer. It now houses a museum of decorative arts. Here you will find ancient objects, furniture,..

This private mansion dates back to the late 18C. It includes a number of olf views of Bruges (17-19C) and a large collection of lace. Upstairs, you can see works by the English painter and engraver Frank Brangwyn (19-20C).

This Gothic church mainly dates back to the 13C. Its brick steeple can be seen from miles around (the construction is 122m high). The interior contains several masterpieces, including a Madonna and Child white marble statue by Michelangelo. The choir..

The entrance to this lovely museum devoted to local popular traditions is indicated by a typical sign, that of a tavern: Zwarte Kat (The Black Cat). Here, you will discover objects, reconstructions of interiors (including a 1920 school room), shops a..

This 15C building was restored in the 19C. It used to host a market on the ground floor. Its elegant façade, with bartizans and a perron, is adorned with fine statues. The interior has retained magnificent carved beams.

The Zwin is a former sound that is now silted up and lies between the resort and Dutch border. It once served the ports of Sluis, Damme et Bruges. It is now a nature reserve , with a section open to the public, and is home to interesting flora and..

In the Middle Ages, the city and its region were managed by the Bruges Frank, a sort of local council, and this was its Palace , rebuilt in the 18C in the neo-Classical style on the site of a former palace (1520), which was itself built in the place..

This building was erected in the late 14C in the flamboyant Gothic style, and restored in the 19C. The façade has three towers and very detailed decoration. On the first floor, the Gothic room is covered with a vault of panelled diagonal ribs wth som..

The lovely Renaissance façade of this building will please art fans. There are harmonious lines, three pretty gables with volutes and a plesant mix of colours.

On this square not far from the canal, you will see a column supporting two lions and the emblem of the tanners. The people of Bruges named this charming spot the "little fish market".

From this embankment, you can see Bruges in all its splendour. Near the basin stands the pretty House of the Tanneurs (Huidenvettershuis), which dates back to 1630 and is a fine example of civilian architecture. A house with a tower stands a little..

The delicious and poetic humpbacked bridge of St Bonifatius is a delight. The bust of Juan-Luis Vives honours the 16C Spanish humanist who ended his days in Bruges far from his homeland.