The Burg square
It was here that Count Baldwin I had a fortified castle built to
protect the area against the ramping Normans and Vikings. The
castle has long since disappeared as well as the main religious
building of Bruges, the St. Donatius church, which stood on the
opposite site of the town hall. It was also here, at this very
place, that Charles the Good, Count of Flanders, has been murdered
in 1127.
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.
The City Hall. 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.
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. Since 1988 it houses the
City Administration Centre.
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.
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