Museum van het Heilig Bloed

Museum van het Heilig Bloed is a church building and museum on Burg Square in Bruges, Belgium, composed of two chapels stacked one above the other. The lower chapel displays rounded Romanesque arches and thick stone walls, while the upper chapel shows pointed Gothic arches and elaborate stone decoration.

Count Thierry of Alsace founded the church in 1157 after returning from a crusade to Jerusalem. The Romanesque lower chapel remained largely unchanged, while the upper chapel was rebuilt in Gothic style during the 15th and 16th centuries.

The church takes its name from a relic venerated by believers for centuries and kept inside an ornate silver container. Every Friday a public ceremony allows visitors and pilgrims to view the relic up close.

The church opens daily from 10:00 AM to 5:15 PM and entry to the chapels is free. The treasury chamber displaying liturgical objects and reliquaries can be visited for a small fee.

An alabaster relief from the 17th century shows biblical scenes in fine carvings that capture details like facial expressions and clothing folds with remarkable precision. The work demonstrates a technique where thin layers of alabaster appear translucent, giving the figures an almost lifelike appearance.

Location: Bruges

Inception: 1157

Founders: Thierry of Lorraine, Count of Flanders

Architectural style: Romanesque architecture, Gothic architecture

Accessibility: Wheelchair inaccessible

Address: Burg 13

Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 10:00-17:15

Phone: +3250336792

Website: http://holyblood.com

GPS coordinates: 51.20833,3.22694

Latest update: December 12, 2025 18:14