Explore Belgium with Decentralized Travel Ecosystem XcelTrip: The Belfry of Bruges, St. Saviour’s Cathedral.
Belgium, country of northwestern Europe. It is one of the smallest and most densely populated European countries, and it has been, since its independence in 1830, a representative democracy headed by constitutional monarchy.
Modern Belgium is interesting to many travelers. This is largely due to medieval castles and squares, which were fortunate enough to survive to this day.
The Belfry of Bruges
When in Belgium, the Belfry Palace and the Gall Tower in Burges Square are two fascinating keeps that you must see. The Belgians consider the date of their construction to be 1040. The tower is visible from everywhere, compositionally it dominates the square.
The Belfry of Bruges, or Belfort, is a medieval bell tower in the historical center of Bruges. One of the city’s most prominent symbols: the belfry formerly housed a treasury and the municipal archives, and served as an observation post to spot fires and other dangers. A narrow, steep staircase of 366 steps, accessible by the public for an entry fee, leads to the top of the 83-meter-high building, which leans about a meter to the east.
The Church of Our Lady
The Church of Our Lady with its 122-meter brick steeple dominates the skyline of the city. It is quite literally the ‘high spot’ of the stonemason’s art in medieval Bruges. It took two centuries (13th-15th) to build this church.
Among many art treasures is a beautiful Carrera marble Madonna and Child sculpture by Michelangelo known as ‘Madonna of Bruges’. Although there are many different adaptations of the Madonna and child, whether in a painting or in a sculpture, it does represent the very core of Christianity. Michelangelo’s sculpture represents the Virgin Mary and son Jesus together. The rich history behind this sculpture is fascinating.
St. Saviour’s Cathedral
St. Saviour’s Cathedral is Bruges’ oldest parish church (12th-15th century). Worth seeing are the goblins, the choir, rood loft with organ (1619–1717), choir stalls and numerous fine paintings. Cathedral Museum: old paintings and retables, brass tomb plates and reliquaries. The oldest traces of the cathedral of Saint Saviour in Bruges takes us back to the 10th century.
Work on Bruges’ oldest parish church started in the 10th century but after being destroyed by fire, the church was rebuilt and alterations and additions were made in the 13th and 14th centuries. The church hence displays a mixture of styles. The main parts of the church are built in so-called Gothic of the Scheldt style of the 14th century.
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