Brugge 04/30/2025

 We have stayed busy exploring Brugge.  We took a two hour walking tour, visited the Lace Museum, and visited two churches.  We visited both, The  Basilica of the Holy Blood and Church of Our Lady.

The Basilica of the Holy Blood is a Roman Catholic Basilica, built between 1134 and 1157, as the chapel of Count of Flanders.  The church houses a relic of the Holy Blood collected by Joseph of Arimathea (a Biblical figure who assumed responsibility for the burial of Jesus after his crucifixion.) The blood was brought from the Holy Land by Thierry of Alcace, Count of Flanders, after the 2nd Crusade in the 12th century.  The relic of the Holy Blood was given to Thierry by Baldwin III of Jerusalem for his great service. The Basilica is best known as the repository of a venerated vial said to contain a cloth with the blood of Jesus Christ.  Ever since, the vial has played a big part in the religious life of the city. Brugge has an annual Procession of the Holy Blood where the vial is carried around the walls of Brugge.  It is called the Most Beautiful Day in Brugges.

The Church of Our Lady is a Roman Catholic Church dating back to the 13th century.  The alter piece of the chapel enshrines the most celebrated of the church.  It is a white sculpture of the Madonna and Child created by Michaelangelo around 1506. There was a financial disagreement in Italy in regards to the payment of the sculpture, so Michaelangelo brought it to Brugge. The Madonna has remained here since the 1500's, except for two occasions.  It was looted by Napleon in 1794 and recovered in 1815 after the fall of Napoleon.  It was stolen once again in 1944 by Hitler.  It was recovered in Austria and returned here in 1945.  The Madonna was featured in the movie "The Monument Men".  The Madonna is on display for all to see.

Another thing we did was to visit the Lace Museum (Kantcentrum).  They provide lace demonstrations and have workshops for people who want to learn the art of making lace. They also have a lace store.

While Amanda and Linda were at the museum, Harry and I went to see the Brugge Windmills.  At  one time there were 25 windmills around Brugge.  Now there are 4.  We found 2 of them.

It was a busy day. The restaurant we were in said "don't feed Henry".  Linda "accidentally" dropped a french fry.  Henry gobbled up the evidence before the staff saw Linda feeding Henry.

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Basilica of the Holy Blood


Madonna and Child
                                                                  


Crosses hidden from the Germans.  Replaced after WW II


Henry, begging for food





                                                                   Jeruslem Chapel

Brugge Windmills (1 of 4)


                                                                   Church of our Lady


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