Museum van het Heilig Bloed, Minor basilica in Burg Square, Bruges, Belgium.
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: +32050336792
Website: http://holyblood.com
GPS coordinates: 51.20833,3.22694
Latest update: December 5, 2025 16:36
Bruges contains a notable set of buildings that tell the story of the city in the Middle Ages. From stone-faced churches to small paved squares, and canals winding between old houses, these places show how important trade and culture were during the 13th to 15th centuries. Every building and street corner bears the marks of this lively time. Walking through the city, you will see impressive churches like Saint-Saviour Cathedral, open spaces where markets and trade shaped daily life, and museums that keep traces of that past. The canals, part of the city’s features, were used for trade for many years and are still one of the most easy to recognize parts of Bruges. This set of sites offers a clear look at what a large medieval city was like. Walking in Bruges means following the paths of art, trade, and daily life from long ago. These monuments are not separate. They come together to show how people lived, worked, and gathered in this important town.
Flanders in Belgium is a region with a rich history stretching back centuries. Visitors find medieval town centers, old castles, cathedrals, and museums that tell stories of trade, art, and craftsmanship. Cities like Bruges, Ghent, and Antwerp display the architecture and culture of earlier times, while smaller towns like Damme and Veurne preserve the character of the past. In Bruges, visitors can walk through narrow streets, relax by the canals, and taste Belgian beer in traditional breweries. Ghent stands out for its Graslei waterfront and the imposing Castle of the Counts of Flanders. Antwerp offers a town hall on the Grand-Place, a respected diamond museum, and the Rubenshuis, the home of painter Peter Paul Rubens. Along the coast, visitors find beach towns like Blankenberge and Knokke-Heist, a nostalgic tram, and nature reserves. Inland, there are war museums in Ieper, chocolate museums in several cities, and specialized collections like the harp museum. Fishermen in Oostduinkerke preserve traditional methods, while parks and nature areas offer space to explore.
Belfry of Bruges
148 m
Historic Centre of Brugge
133 m
Burg
31 m
Bruges City Hall
30 m
Provinciaal Hof
137 m
Brugs Beer Museum
108 m
Fish market
111 m
Historium Bruges
173 m
Rosary Quay
124 m
Old Civil Registry of the City of Bruges
39 m
Nepomucenusbrug
143 m
Het Steen
50 m
Provostry of St. Donatian
56 m
Niobe
93 m
Sint-Godelieveabdij
193 m
Ambachtshuis van de huidenvetters
99 m
Hotel de Orangerie
157 m
Bourgogne des Flandres brewery
182 m
De Gouden Haspe and De Kleine Haspe
197 m
House Perez de Malvenda
123 m
Oude Burg 17-19
216 m
Hotel De Tuilerieën
214 m
Kartuizerinnenkapel
179 m
Wollestraat 34
145 m
Saint John of Nepomuk
148 m
Manor of the Liberty of Bruges
95 m
Frank Van Acker
75 m
The Lovers
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