Basilica of the Holy Blood and Church of Our Lady

The Basilica of the Holy Blood is a Gothic Revival chapel that is actually situated on top of an older, Romanesque chapel dedicated to St. Basil the Great. The Basilica’s name refers to a relic housed within – a phial containing a cloth stained with the blood of Jesus Christ, which was brought back to Bruges during the Crusades by a Flemish nobleman. We were lucky enough to have visited on the one day a week that the relic was on display for viewing. Unfortunately photography of the relic is not permitted, but here’s some views of the beautiful chapels.

The Gothic detail on the exterior of the Basilica of the Holy Blood

View to the sculpture, Jesus on the Cold Stone, in the Chapel of St. Basil

Statue of Blessed Charles the Good, Count of Flanders in the Chapel of St. Basil

The colorful windows of the Basilica of the Holy Blood shine beside the pulpit in the form of a globe projecting from the wall

Decorative murals and gilded details of the main alter in the Basilica

The Church of Our Lady is a Gothic style church in the city center of Bruges. It boasts the highest tower in the city and the third tallest brickwork tower in the world. The Church’s interior is heavily ornamented in the Baroque style, with amazingly rich carved wooden paneling and details. Enshrined within a large chapel to the side of the main aisle is the Church’s treasure, a white marble sculpture of the Madonna and Child carved by Michelangelo in 1504. Most likely originally meant for a cathedral in Italy, the sculpture was purchased by Brugean merchants and sent to Bruges where it was donated to the Church in 1514. While he was alive, the Madonna was the only sculpture of Michelangelo’s to be taken out of Italy.

View of the bell tower of the Church of Our Lady

Looking down the Church’s nave, towards the choir, from the massive oak pulpit designed by local artist, Jan Antoon Garemijn

This rococo masterpiece was created by a team of master carvers and it appears to be floating in the archway in the Church of Our Lady

A decorative reliquary containing the bone shards of a saint

Also created from oak, these amazing figures were carved around the confessionals by Jacob Berger and Ludo Hagheman

Admiring the craftsmanship

An artistic memorial

A highly ornate side chapel and tomb inside the Church of Our Lady

A mind boggling amount of detail!

The tombs of Charles the Bold and Mary of Burgundy

The altarpiece known as the ‘Capella Sacra’ which houses the Church’s treasured sculpture

‘Madonna’ by Michelangelo