The 14th Century Town Hall, with its long, elaborate
windows, statues and octagonal turrets, was built in a splendid
and dizzying Gothic style. It replaced the 9th century castle of
Baldwin I, count of Flanders.
The name Bruges is probably derived from the old-Scandinavian word
'Brygga', which means 'harbor, or mooring place'.
Bruges Town
Hall, built between 1376 and 1420 is one of the oldest in the Low
Countries. A ceremonial staircase leads from the entrance hall to
the first floor. Here you can visit the lavishly decorated Gothic
Hall. The ceiling is a swooping, vaulted stunner, while the
walls are painted with scenes relating the history of the city.
The gorgeous, lavishly decorated walls of the Gothic Hall really
stand out. The murals illustrating Bruges' glorious past were
added during the chamber's restoration in the late 19th century.
Also, this level of the building contains a small museum chamber
with some paintings, carved stonework, and old maps. The entrance
to this room is opposite of the large windows, on the right side
of the stairs.
The exterior is
covered with 49 replica statues, the bottom row is biblical
figures and one lone knight, the top three rows feature rulers of
Flanders up until the French period and Adam and Eve in a rather
naughty pose. The original statues were taken down during the
French Revolution and destroyed in 1792 in the public square, a
2nd set placed there in 1862 rapidly deteriorated so the statues
you see are rather recent as the facade was only finished in 1989.
open :
9:30am-5:00pm - closed Monday
admission : 2.50 Euro (combination ticket for "Paleis van het
Brugse Vrije")
Old Recorders’ House,
Burg 11A: Renaissance building (1534-1537). Inside is
the Historical Museum of the ‘Brugse Vrije’ (The Liberty
of Bruges), with a.o. the superb oak chimney piece (1529) and
alabaster frieze, conceived in honour of the emperor Charles V,
royal portraits and justice scenes.
Old Country House of the ‘Brugse
Vrije’, Burg 11: The original Country House was built in two
eras (1520-25/1722-27). From the 18th century till the eighties it
was the seat of the Court of Justice.
Provost’s House, Burg 3:
baroque building (1665-66), former seat of the seigniory ‘Proostdij
van Sint-Donaas’.
Under the trees in Burg square
the former St. Donatian’s Cathedral used to stand (ca
900, destroyed in 1799). Remains of the romanesque choir gallery
were excavated in 1988. The gallery was tastefully integrated in
the cellars of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Nearby is also the
sculpture representing The Lovers, a symbolic work of art
referring to the numerous young couples coming to the City Hall to
be married.
Basilica of the Holy Blood,
Burg 15: double chapel. On ground level: St. Basil’s Chapel
(1139-1149) in roman style. The first floor chapel, converted into
neo-gothic style in the 19th century, contains a.o. the famous
Relic of the Holy Blood (worship: every Friday). Museum of the
Holy Blood: exhibition of reliquaries, vestments, paintings and
other artefacts.
Source: www.brugge.be
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€ 99