Brugge, Belgium
This gothic style town hall was built in 1376. It was one of the first monumental town halls in the Belgium.
The Provincial court is the a good example of how Brugge was renovated in neo-gothic style during the second half of the 19th century and tried to preserve the look of the city. After the destruction of the water halls in 1787 a new complex was built there in neo-gothic style.
When approaching Brugge, the high tower of Our Lady's Church is one of the first sights you see. Although this church is not the most important one on the religious level it attracts the most visitors because of its medieval character and the important works of art. The church was constructed in the second half of the 13th century. The reason why so many tourists visit Our Lady is the presence of the Madonna by Michelangelo.
The chapel of the Holy Blood sits on the 'Burg' square, the second of two town squares in Brugge. It was constructed in the 12th century and promoted to the rank of Basilica in 1923. This chapel contains a bottle of rock crystal that is said to containing the blood of Jesus. Joseph of Arimathea preserved the blood after he washed the body of Jesus following the crucifixion.
The mural decorations in the present chapel of the Holy Blood are from the second renovation in the 19th century.