Bruges

Bruges was a center of medieval European trade, and a great place to try Belgian beer.

Hard to beat a Belgian lunch.

High tech, old school

The Basilica of the Holy Blood houses a relic said to contain the blood of Christ.

The upper Chapel of Holy Blood was renovated in the 15th century and repainted in the 19th century.

This horn was blown to curse the murder of Charles the Good, Count of Flanders.

Maria of Burgundy's crown

The lower St. Basil Chapel was built in the 12th century. 

It houses a relic of St. Basil, brought back by Robert II, Count of Flanders, from the First Crusade.

Bruges City Hall is next to the Chapel of the Holy Blood.

Its Gothic Hall was decorated with scenes from Flanders history in the late 19th century.

The city hall was originally built in the 15th century.

In 1302, the rebellious Flemish beat the French in the Battle of Golden Spurs. In a prelude to the 100 years war, disciplined Flemish pikemen defeated numerous French cavalry charges; the Flemish collected over 500 pairs of spurs from the battlefield after defeating the French.

Nice chairs!

The courthouse next door has a mantlepiece from 1530 depicting Charles V, who grew up in neighboring Ghent.

Some of Europe's greatest sights in one square

The Provincial Court

The Belfry of Bruges, made memorable by Brendan Gleeson in In Bruges

St. Salvator's Cathedral was built in the13th century.

The cathedral was a church until the 1800s. 

So regal

Charles the Good was Count of Flanders 1119 to 1127. His mother was the daughter of the Count of Flanders and his father was the King of Denmark. He was murdered in church by a rich family he tried to prevent from price gouging during a famine.

I must find the white stag!

Not sure what the deal is with the house in the clouds.

One interpretation of being fed to lions

If you put 50 cents in an old machine, you can light up the inside of the tower.

Those rich enough to be buried in the cathedral painted the inside of their tombs.

The Church of Our Lady Bruges has the third tallest brick tower in the world.

The church was built in the 13th through 15th centuries.

The tombs of Charles the Bold, the last great Duke of Burgundy, and Mary the Rich, his daughter, and grandmother of Charles V.

Michelangelo's Madonna, his only sculpture that left Italy during his lifetime. As you would expect, Napoleon and Hitler both coveted it.

The Order of the Golden Fleece was founded by Philip the Good, Charles the Bold's father.

Another "Venice of the North"

The Gruuthusemuseum is housed in the mansion of the 13th century family that had a monopoly on gruit, the herb mixture used to flavor beer before hops.

Bruges, as good or not as bad as In Bruges makes it out to be.

Cheers!