Church of Our Lady Bruges

Church of Our Lady Bruges: pearl of Gothic art

The construction of the majestic Notre Dame or Church of Our Lady Bruges started in 1225 on top of the remains of an older, probably 9th century Romanesque chapel. The nave (oldest part) was completely built out of stone in typical ‘Tournai Scheldt Gothic‘. The choir and apse were built between 1270 and 1280 in French Gothic style. In 1370 they built the north aisle and the south about 80 years later. Around 1465 the Paradise Portal was finally erected in Brabant Gothic style, which fully completed the construction of the Church of Our Lady in Bruges.

The 122.3 meters tall tower of the Church of Our Lady Bruges, which consists entirely of brick, still largely dominates the Bruges skyline today. It is often said that this is the tallest brick structure in the world, but strictly speaking this is not true. It is probably the tallest ‘known’ brick building in the world but the less-visited St. Martin in Landshut is slightly higher (130.6m). The Church of Our Lady Bruges is thus the second tallest brick building in the world.

Other things to see besides the Church of Our Lady in Bruges

- Belfry of Bruges
- Bruges Town Hall
- Burgher’s Lodge
- Bruges Beguinage