Church of Our Lady, Bruges 
The soaring spire of the Church of Our Lady reflected in a Bruges canal.
Photo by Dave Ciskowski.
Exterior view from the south.
West front and towers, overlooking a narrow street.
Nave looking east towards the choir.
Michaelangelo's Madonna and Child in the Church of Our Lady.
The soaring 119m (396-ft.) spire of the Church of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk) in Bruges can be seen from miles around.
What to See
It took two centuries (13th-15th) to build the church. Among the many art treasures of the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk is a beautiful Carrara marble Madonna and Child sculpture by Michelangelo.
This statue, made in 1504, was the only one of Michelangelo's works to leave Italy in his lifetime and is today one of the few that can be seen outside Italy. It was bought by a Bruges merchant, Jan van Mouskroen, and donated to the church in 1506.
The church also contains a painting of the Crucifixion of Christ by Anthony van Dyck and a rococo extravaganza of a pulpit, designed by Bruges artist Jan Antoon Garemijn.
Also impressive are the side-by-side bronze tomb sculptures of the Duke of Burgundy, Charles the Bold, who died in 1477, and his daughter, Mary of Burgundy, who died at age 25 after falling from her horse in 1482.
A windowpane under the tombs allows you to view the 13th- and 14th-century graves of priests.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Church of Our Lady; Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk |
| Type of site: | Parish church |
| Faith: | Roman Catholic |
| Location: | Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerkhof Zuid, Bruges, Belgium |
| Phone: | 050/34-53-14 |
| Hours: | Mon-Fri 9-12:30pm and 1:30-5pm; Sat 9-12:30pm and 1:30-4pm; Sun 1:30-4pm |
| Cost: | Church and Madonna and Child altar free; chapel of Charles and Mary and Museum 2.50€ adults, 1.50€ children |
Travel Resources
- Guided Tours of Bruges - sightseeing tours and excursions
- Bruges Hotel Reviews - unbiased ratings from fellow travelers
- Bruges Hostels & Guesthouses - budget lodging with no booking fees
- Car Rentals in Bruges - great deals from AutoEurope
- Bruges Travel Forum - tips, advice, invaluable information
Location Map
Location map and satellite view of the Church of Our Lady. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Bruges Map or get our Google Earth download.
More Information
- Reviews of the Church of Our Lady – TripAdvisor
- Church of Our Lady – IgoUgo member review, November 8, 2003
- Bruges: Our Lady's Church – Trabel.com
