Museum Sint-Janshospitaal

In the revived chapel of a hospital construction with timber beamwork, this tradition shows various implements, hospital sedan seats and a gruesome 1679 painting of a body class. But it’s far better known because of the own six masterpieces by artist Hans Memling, for example the reliquary of St Ursula. This gilded oak looks like a cathedral, painted with scenes from the life span of St Ursula, including realistic Cologne cityscapes.

Markt

The heart of Bruges, the market square is lined with cafes under step-gabled facades. Together they create a scene, although the buildings aren’t always as medieval as they look the former postoffice that is neo-Gothic is magnificent. The scene has been dominated by the Belfort, Belgium’s hottest belfry. Its tower that is legendary is arguably better appreciated from afar than by climbing the 366 claustrophobic actions to the very surface.

Groeningemuseum

Bruges’ art gallery boasts a incredibly rich set that is strong in brilliant Primitive and Renaissance works, constituting the conspicuous wealth of the town with glistening artistry that is realistic. Meditative works contain Jan Van Eyck’s radiant master piece Madonna with Canon Van der Paele (1436) and the Madonna Crowned by Angels (1482) by the Master of the Embroidered Foliage, where the rich fabric of the Madonna’s robe matches the’real’ leaves in her feet using exquisite detail.

Belfort

83m above the square such as a rocket is this 13th century belfry that is fabulous. It’s worth the claustrophobic 366-step climb for the views that are fine, although there’s relatively little to watch indoors. Look out through wide-gauge chicken wire for panoramas round the spires along with roof tops towards the wind turbines and giant cranes of all Zeebrugge. Visitor amounts are confined by 70 at once, which may lead to queues.

Burg

Just east of the Markt, the theatrical but still enchanting Burg has been Bruges’ administrative centre for hundreds of years. It’s in this area you will find the city’s stadhuis, the Gotische Zaal, Brugse Vrije and Basiliek van het Heilig Bloed.

Kasteel van Loppem

Around 10km south of Bruges, Kasteel van Loppem can be really just a brick castle-mansion which has been the control center for the Belgian army and had its moment of fame at the end of WWI when it was briefly home to the king. There is a classic hedge maze on the beautifully manicured grounds.

Begijnhof

Bruges’ beautiful begijnhof goes from the 13th century. Despite the hordes remains an incredibly tranquil harbor. Outside the 1776 gate way bridge is located a tempting (if predictably tourist-priced) variety of terraced restaurantsand lace stores and waffle peddlers.

Basiliek van het Heilig Bloed

The western end of this stadhuis morphs into the Basiliek van het Heilig Bloed. The basilica takes its name from a phial supposedly containing a couple drops of the blood of Christ which was brought shortly after the 12th century Crusades. The do or brought out for veneration at 2pm daily and leads upstairs to some colourfully adorned chapel at which the rake is concealed behind a silver tabernacle that is brassy.

Jeruzalemkerk

Within the so-caled Adornesdomein estate is one of Bruges’ strangest churches, the 15th-century Jeruzalemkerk, assembled by the Adornes family. Supposedly based on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, it’s really a monument having a grisly altarpiece covered in skull motifs and also an effigy of the corpse tucked away from the of Christ. The entry price includes entrance to a museum occupying a few of their property’s pretty almshouses.

Stadhuis

The exquisite 1420 stadhuis includes a fanciful facade that’s second just to Leuven’s for exquisitely turreted Gothic excess. Inside, an audioguide explains a number of portraits in somewhat extortionate detail before directing you up stairs to the astonishing Gotische Zaal (Gothic Hall). The outside is smothered with replica statues of countesses and the counts of Flanders, the originals were torn down in 1792 by soldiers. Entrance includes admission into the Gothic Hall and adjacent Brugse Vrije.

Gotische Zaal

Over the stadhuis, this hallway’s polychromatic ceiling almost stinks with medieval carvings. Murals depicting the history of the town increase the room’s magnificence. Make sure you accompany your explorations. Entrance to the hall is comprised with entrance that was stadhuis.

Brugse Vrije

Eyecatching with its ancient Aztec gables, gilt highlights and gold statuettes, this was the seat of the’Liberty of Bruges’, the large autonomous land and administrative body which ruled from Bruges (11-21 –1794). Much of the construction is used for city offices, but you may go to the former aldermen’s room, the Renaissancezaal, to admire its remarkable 1531 carved chimney piece. Admission also includes entrance into this stadhuis.

Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk

Dominating its surrounds, this church was re opened in 2015. Its massive 115m spire is unmissable during much of the town. Inside, it’s best known for Michelangelo’s serenely contemplative 1504 Madonna and Child statue, the only such work by Michelangelo to leave Italy during the artist’s life. Watch out also for your Adoration of the Shepherds by Pieter Pourbus.

Historium

The Historium occupies a neo-Gothic building on the northern side of this Markt. Video tour and the immersive one-hour sound aims to take you straight back into Bruges: you may nose around Van Eyck’s studio, one of adventures, and some love story gives storyline arrangement.

Ten Wijngaarde

Just inside the main entry of this begijnhof that is a charming 17th century house now changed in an endearing little four-room museum. In the kitchen with blue-and-white Delft tiles you’ll observe so that it can sit around, a Louvain stove which extends into the room from the hearth. The sitting room exhibits black Chantilly lace, as the bucolic bedroom comes with a portrait showing a conventional begijn costume.

Het Zand Square

Under ongoing redevelopment since 2015,’t Zand is Bruges’ biggest public square and a big transport hub, Filled with stores, restaurants and resorts. Its magnificent Beeldengroep fountain, including riders and lumpy nudes, is inviting when floodlit at night. The dominant building is that the vast red Concertgebouw, a concert hall and art space opened in 2002 to observe Bruges’ year-long stint as the European City of Culture.

Volkskundemuseum

This appealing Museum of Folk Life gifts visitors with 18 themed tableaux illustrating Flemish lifetime in times. The museum is a static affair, but it’s in a attractive godshuis (almshouse), and the timewarp museum café De Zwarte Kat includes a nice choice of beer. Temporary exhibits upstairs are take a peek. Traditional lollies are made here on the very first and third Thursday of this month.

Brouwerij De Halve Maan

Founded in 1856, though there’s been a brewery on the site since 1564, it could be the previous household brouwerij (brewhouse) in central Bruges. Multi lingual, 45-minute guided visits ($8; 11am to 4pm, to 5pm Saturday) depart on the hour. These incorporate a tasting but can occasionally be quite crowded. As an alternative, it is possible to easily sip one of these exceptional Brugse Zot (Bruges Fool, 7%) or Straffe Hendrik (Strong Henry, 9%) beers at the alluring brewery café.

St-Salvatorskathedraal

Sub-towers that are stacked top the massive tower of 13th-century St Saviour’s Cathedral. In daylight the construction appears significantly dour, however once floodlit at night, it takes on a fascination. The cathedral’s interior is vastly high but feels plain despite a choice of tapestries. Beneath the tower, even a glass-floor reveals some painted graves, and there is a passingly appealing treasury displaying 15thcentury brasses and also a 1559 triptych by Dirk Bouts.

Hof Arents

Underneath the Arentshuis, Hof Arents is really just a magical little park using a hump-backed pedestrian bridge, St-Bonifaciusbrug, that crosses the tube, offering idyllic viewpoints. Nick-named Lovers’ Bridge, it’s where many their first kiss is stolen by a Bruges taxpayer. Privileged guests residing in the Guesthouse Nuit Blanche obtain the romantic moonlit scene all to themselves once that the park has closed.

Koeleweimolen

At the 13th century, Bruges’ amazing walls were sprinkled with molens (windmills) where cereals were ground to bread — at a time 25 ringed the town. Four stand on the banks, today and 2 can be visited. This one, dating from the 1760s, has been moved into its present location in 1996 and acts as a mill. The other could be the 18th-century St-Janshuismolen, still in its first location. Each houses a small museum.

Diamantmuseum

While Antwerp is now the middle of the diamond business, the idea of polishing the stones with diamond’dust’ was originally pioneered. This is actually the theme with this museum which displays a greenish raw gemstone and clarifies how the catchphrase’diamonds are’ launched as a De Beers effort. Diamond-polishing demonstrations (at 12.15pm and 3.15pm) cost $3 extra.

Kantcentrum

The Kantcentrum exhibits a collection of lace in a row of older cottages that are interlinked. From the afternoons (2pm to 5pm) you can watch bobbin lace made by informal gatherings of experienced lace makers and also their students who gather to talk and function here. You’ll swiftly know why lace is high priced When you have seen how intricate the practice is; a piece costs $10.

Arentshuis

This stately 18th-century patrician dwelling displays the paintings that are powerful and dark-hued etchings of Frank Brangwyn (1867–1956), a Bruges-born artist of Welsh parentage. His images of WWI are particularly powerful. Entry is free along with your Groeningemuseum ticket.

Lumina Domestica

The educational National Lamp Museum has over 6500 artefacts relating during background to lighting, making it the biggest collection of its kind. It sheds light onto the foundation of this modest lamp also illuminates one’s awareness.