The Madonna and Child
Michelangelo's marble (1504) — stolen twice and returned.
Wolfgang Staudt — CC BY 2.0 · FrDr — CC BY-SA 4.0 · stephanemat — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Fred Romero from Paris, France — CC BY 2.0
The Church of Our Lady in Bruges has one of the tallest brick towers in the world (115.5 metres) — a thirteenth-century Gothic masterpiece dominating the city's southern skyline. But its most famous treasure is inside: Michelangelo's marble "Madonna and Child" (1504), the only work of his to leave Italy in his lifetime, bought by a Bruges merchant — and stolen twice (by Napoleon, and by the Nazis as told in "The Monuments Men") and returned. In the choir stand two lavish gilded-bronze tombs of Mary of Burgundy (who died in 1482 falling from a horse) and her father Charles the Bold — the last great dukes of Burgundy, and beneath the choir's glass floor lie recently discovered medieval painted graves. From the choir the private balcony of the Gruuthuse family overlooks from their adjoining palace. The church is free for prayer; the museum section (the statue, choir and tombs) is ticketed. Fully restored (2015–2020). On the route between the Burg and the Beguinage.
Michelangelo's marble (1504) — stolen twice and returned.
Gilded bronze for Mary and Charles the Bold.
Medieval murals beneath the glass floor.
Mariastraat, 8000 Bruges
Bonifacius BridgeThe Bonifacius Bridge is Bruges' smallest and most romantic bridge: a little sto1 minute walk4.6
Gruuthuse MuseumThe Gruuthuse Museum is the palace of Lodewijk van Gruuthuse, Bruges' richest no1 minute walk4.7
St John's Hospital (Memling Museum)St John's Hospital (Sint-Janshospitaal) is among Europe's oldest surviving hospi2 minutes walk4.4
Groeninge MuseumThe Groeninge Museum is Bruges' fine-arts museum and the home of the "Flemish Pr2 minutes walk4.5
St Salvator's CathedralSt Salvator's Cathedral is Bruges' oldest parish church — founded in the tenth c3 minutes walk4.7Enter the museum section (ticket) — the statue stands in a side chapel behind a glass screen, seen reasonably close, and early morning is quietest. Combine it with the adjoining Gruuthuse Museum (its balcony overlooks the choir) and the Bonifacius Bridge behind the church — the three are one corner. Take the combined Musea Brugge ticket if you will also visit the Groeninge and Sint-Jan.