The Belfry of Bruges rises eighty-three meters over the southern edge of the Market Square, its stone silhouette dominating the city’s skyline. This square has functioned as the city’s commercial and political hub since at least the tenth…
Best of Bruges
This self-guided walk leads you through the historic heart of Bruges, from its bustling central square down to the quiet shores of the Lake of Love. You'll see the city's most famous gothic landmarks, a medieval hospital, and beautiful works of Flemish art along the way.
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1. Market Square
2. Belfry of Bruges
The Belfry of Bruges, known locally as the Belfort, defines the city skyline with its imposing eighty-three-meter brick tower and distinctive octagonal lantern stage. Located in the heart of the Markt, or Market Square, this medieval…
3. De Burg
The Burg is a large, open square defined by a dense gathering of historic buildings, including the fourteenth-century City Hall and the Basilica of the Holy Blood. Its irregular shape, now open and paved in cobblestone, marks the exact…
4. Basilica of the Holy Blood
The Basilica of the Holy Blood is recognized by its layered design, featuring a dark, Romanesque lower chapel dedicated to Saint Basil and a decorative Gothic upper chapel. Built between eleven thirty-four and eleven fifty-seven, it…
5. Groeninge Museum
The Groeninge Museum sits on the site of the former Eekhout Abbey, a medieval house of Augustinian canons. You can identify the building by its modest, single-story exterior that resembles a quiet convent, with contents compressed into…
6. Church of Our Lady
The Church of Our Lady is defined by its massive brick tower, which rises one hundred fifteen point six meters above the city. This spire stands as the tallest structure in Bruges and ranks as the second-tallest brick church tower in the…
7. Saint John’s Hospital
Saint John’s Hospital, or Sint-Janshospitaal, stands along Mariastraat as one of the oldest preserved hospital complexes in Europe. Its most striking feature is the massive, monumental oak roof truss stretching across the attic, widely…
8. Minnewater Park
Minnewater Park is defined by the Minnewater, or Lake of Love, a rectangular body of water that once served as a vital medieval reservoir and commercial dock. The park contains the Poertoren, a fourteenth-century round tower that stored…