Burg, Bruges

The corner of the Burg and Breidelstraat was once the site of Sint-Donaas, a cathedral church of Carolingian origin, built in 900. The lovely Baroque building standing there today is the former Provost's House (1665-66), the cathedral itself having been demolished in 1799. A few remnants of the walls of the choir are still visible in the garden adjacent to the house.

Across on the east side of the square the Bruges Tourist Office occupies part of what was, up until 1984, the Law Courts, built between 1722 and 1727 on the site of the former Paleis van het Brugse Vrije (Liberty of Bruges) from where independent magistrates exercised jurisdiction over the country area around Bruges. Some fragments of the older building have survived, including the pretty 16th C. facade overlooking the canal at the rear. One or two of the more historic rooms now make up the Brugse Vrije Museum.

To the right of the Paleis van het Brugse Vrije stands the Civiele Griffie (Old Recorder's House). Richly decorated in gold and adorned with statues it was built between 1534-37 in typical Renaissance style.

On the southeast side of the square the Stadhuis is one of the oldest town halls in the Netherlands, having been constructed between 1376 and 1420. The facade of the delicate Gothic building displays the strong vertical emphasis characteristic of the style, with soaring pilasters, three of which end in octagonal turrets, separated by tall Gothic arched windows.Statues of the counts of Flanders from Baldwin Iron Arm onwards fill the 49 niches. Inside are two rooms which should not be missed: the great Gothic Hall on the first floor with its beautiful timber vaulting (1402) and its murals recording events in the town's history by A. and J. de Vriendt (1895-1900); and the containing documents which again relate to the history of Bruges.

In the southern corner of the square, to the right of the town hall and adjacent to it, stands the two-storied Heiligbloedbasiliek (Basilica of the Holy Blood). Kept inside the church is a crystal vial reputed to contain a drop of Christ's blood brought back from the Holy Land by Dietrich of Alsace in 1149 on his return from the Second Crusade. From this has originated the traditional Procession of the Holy Blood when each year in May the sacred relic is carried through the streets of Bruges.The facade of the basilica with its three Flamboyant-style arches and gilded statues was erected between 1529 and 1534. The basilica itself consists of a Romanesque lower chapel and late Gothic upper chapel. The lower chapel (1149) houses relics of St Basil brought from Palestine by Robert II, Count of Flanders. An elegant spiral staircase leads to the upper chapel (1480) where every Friday the vial containing the Holy Blood is brought out and shown to the faithful.Next to the upper chapel a small museum has been established, its most precious possession being the reliquary (1614-17) in which the Holy Blood is borne through the streets. Among the 15th and 16th C. paintings beside the reliquary are two wings of a triptych by Pieter Pourbus showing members of the Brotherhood of the Holy Blood.

To the left of the Stadhuis, Blinde Ezelstraat passes under a pretty Renaissance arch between the town hall and the Civiele Griffie before crossing Blinde Ezelbrug to the Vismarkt (1821). Here each morning from Tuesday to Saturday fishmongers sell their wares laid out on stone counters.

Running alongside the Reie are Steenhouwersdijk and Groene Rei, two streets lined with picturesque buildings. Note in particular the rear facade of the Palais de Justice and also Pelicaanhuis.

From the Vismarkt cross Huidenvetterplaats (Tanners' Square) with its guild-house dating from 1630, to Rozenhoedkaai, one of the departure points for boat trips on the canals.

From Rozenhoedkaai an exceptionally fine view is obtaine of the old houses bordering the canal, with the Belfry rising high above the rooftops in the background.