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…
Medieval Brick and Spires
We look closely at the soaring brickwork monuments that define the Bruges skyline, studying the engineering feats and artistic treasures of medieval stonemasons.
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1. Belfry of Bruges
2. Sint-Salvatorskathedraal
Sint-Salvatorskathedraal is recognized by a distinctive, fortress-like tower that transitions from dark, heavy Romanesque stone at its base to a lighter nineteenth-century spire. Though it currently serves as the cathedral of Bruges, the…
3. 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…
4. 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…
5. Boniface Bridge
The Boniface Bridge is a small, arched stone and brick footbridge that connects the grounds of the Gruuthusemuseum to the area beside the Church of Our Lady. While its pointed arch and weathered masonry seem to belong to the medieval…
6. Gruuthusemuseum
The Gruuthusemuseum is a fifteenth-century city palace recognizable by its ornate, stepped-gable facade that sits directly adjacent to the Church of Our Lady. The palace takes its name from the Lords of Gruuthuse, whose wealth originated…
7. Bruges City Hall
Bruges City Hall is identified by a facade of white stone featuring high pointed windows, a crenelated parapet, and six graceful turrets. Construction on this building began in thirteen seventy-six at the request of Count Louis of Male and…
8. 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…