Church of Our Lady
Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
The monumental Church of our Lady is one of the oldest churches in Bruges. The first church on this site, a Carolingian chapel, dates from the 9th century. In the church’s archives it is said that Bonifatius founded this church in 741, but older documents state that it was his companion, Hilarious, who founded the church.
In the 13th century the building of the present church was started. The oldest part, the middle-aisle was built of tournai-stone, in typical Scheldt Gotic style. The front- and western facade with the typical staircase tower and the use of blue stone are also influenced by the Scheldt Gotic.
The tower of 122.3 meters high is a famous landmark. It’s the highest building in Bruges and it is the second highest brick building in the world!
The church is well known for the mausoleum of Charles the Bold and his daughter Mary of Burgundy. Her remains are here. The moral remains of Charles the Bold are presumably buried at the lost Saint Donaas Cathedral on the Burg.
At the foot of the altar under the mausoleums, three richly painted graves were uncovered. In the leaden box in one of the graves lies the skeleton of Mary of Burgundy. The heart of her son, Philip the Handsome lies in a separate leaden box.
Mary Burgundy’s mausoleum was designed by Jan Borman. Both reigns are, as was custom in the Middle Ages, lying with folded hands. With their eyes open they watch eternal life. At their feet the dog and lion symbolize female devotion and male strength. Mary of Burgundy’s face is modelled according to her death mask. Her crown is decorated with gems.
Charles the Bold’s mausoleum is made in both gothic and renaissance style. The lines are very simple, but the weaponry is artistic and in detail represented.
Together with the mausoleums the church is also famous for a sculpture by Michelangelo, that is, Madonna and child. The sculpture was originally meant for the Piccolomini altar of the Siena Cathedral. It was bought in Italy by the merchant Jan van Moeskroen and donated to the church in 1514. The family vault lies at the foot of the altar, in front of the sculpture.
The Lanchals Chapel is named after Pieter Lanchals. He was a bailiff who’s head was lopped off because of his loyalty to Burgundy and Maximilian of Austria. Legend has it that Maximilian punished Bruges by obliging the population to keep 52 swans on their lakes and canals till eternity, because ‘Lanchals' means ‘long neck’ in Dutch. However, due to old bills the city kept, that cover the costs of the maintenance of the swans, we know now that the swans were seen on the canals long before Pieter Lanchals was born.
In the 13th century the building of the present church was started. The oldest part, the middle-aisle was built of tournai-stone, in typical Scheldt Gotic style. The front- and western facade with the typical staircase tower and the use of blue stone are also influenced by the Scheldt Gotic.
The tower of 122.3 meters high is a famous landmark. It’s the highest building in Bruges and it is the second highest brick building in the world!
The church is well known for the mausoleum of Charles the Bold and his daughter Mary of Burgundy. Her remains are here. The moral remains of Charles the Bold are presumably buried at the lost Saint Donaas Cathedral on the Burg.
At the foot of the altar under the mausoleums, three richly painted graves were uncovered. In the leaden box in one of the graves lies the skeleton of Mary of Burgundy. The heart of her son, Philip the Handsome lies in a separate leaden box.
Mary Burgundy’s mausoleum was designed by Jan Borman. Both reigns are, as was custom in the Middle Ages, lying with folded hands. With their eyes open they watch eternal life. At their feet the dog and lion symbolize female devotion and male strength. Mary of Burgundy’s face is modelled according to her death mask. Her crown is decorated with gems.
Charles the Bold’s mausoleum is made in both gothic and renaissance style. The lines are very simple, but the weaponry is artistic and in detail represented.
Together with the mausoleums the church is also famous for a sculpture by Michelangelo, that is, Madonna and child. The sculpture was originally meant for the Piccolomini altar of the Siena Cathedral. It was bought in Italy by the merchant Jan van Moeskroen and donated to the church in 1514. The family vault lies at the foot of the altar, in front of the sculpture.
The Lanchals Chapel is named after Pieter Lanchals. He was a bailiff who’s head was lopped off because of his loyalty to Burgundy and Maximilian of Austria. Legend has it that Maximilian punished Bruges by obliging the population to keep 52 swans on their lakes and canals till eternity, because ‘Lanchals' means ‘long neck’ in Dutch. However, due to old bills the city kept, that cover the costs of the maintenance of the swans, we know now that the swans were seen on the canals long before Pieter Lanchals was born.
Download the free izi.TRAVEL app
Create your own audio tours!
Use of the system and the mobile guide app is free
