Basilica of the Holy Blood, Bruges
The relic of the Holy Blood. Once each year, the Bishop of Bruges carries
the relic in a procession through the city. Photo © Brugge.be.
Exterior of the basilica on Burg Square. Photo by Alister Coyne.
The beautiful upper chapel. Photo by Dave Ciskowski.
Reliquary of the Holy Blood. Photos by Dave Ciskowski and Mark Bridge.
Stained glass windows in the upper chapel. Photo by Dave Ciskowski.
The austere lower chapel. Photos by Dave Ciskowski and swarve.
The Basilica of the Holy Blood (Basiliek van het Heilig Bloed) in Bruges houses a venerated relic of Christ whose origin is a mystery worthy of Indiana Jones.
History
Since 1149, the Basilica of the Holy Blood in Bruges has housed a fragment of cloth stained with what is said to be the coagulated blood of Christ, wiped from his body after the crucifixion by Joseph of Arimathea.
Legend says the holy cloth was brought to Bruges at the time of the Second Crusade by the Count of Flanders, Diederik van de Elzas, who received it from the Patriarch of Jerusalem.
More probably, the relic came from Constantinople, which in 1204 was sacked by the Crusader army of Count of Flanders Baldwin IX. This is not known for certain, however.
What to See
The relic is embedded in a rock-crystal vial, which itself is inside a small glass cylinder adorned with a golden crown at each end. Normally the relic is kept in a magnificent tabernacle, on which is an image of the "lamb of Christ," on a side altar in the upper chapel.
The sacred relic is brought out regularly so that the faithful can kiss it, and every year, in the colorful Procession of the Holy Blood on Ascension Day, the bishop of Bruges carries the relic through the streets, accompanied by costumed residents acting out biblical scenes.
Aside from the relic, the 12th-century basilica is well worth a visit for the richness of its design and its other treasures. The basilica is Romanesque with a Gothic upper floor.
In the Basilica Museum, a reliquary created in 1617 by Bruges goldsmith Jan Crabbe has a gem-encrusted hexagonal case to hold the relic and at the top a golden statue of the Virgin. A second reliquary, from 1612, with a lid from 1716, is silver with a golden flower garland added in 1890.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Basilica of the Holy Blood; Basiliek van het Heilig Bloed |
| Type of site: | Catholic shrine |
| Date: | 12th century |
| Address: | Burg 10, Bruges, Belgium |
Phone: |
050/33-67-92 |
| Hours: | Apr-Sept daily 9:30am-noon and 2-6pm; Oct-Mar daily 10am-noon and 2-4pm (closed Wed afternoon) |
| Cost: | Basilica free; museum 1€ adults, .50€ children |
| Procession: | May 25, 3:00 pm |
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 Basilica of the Holy Blood. 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.
Sources
- Frommer's Brussels and Bruges.
- Sanguis Christi – Official website of the Noble Brotherhood of the Holy Blood
- The Chapel of the Holy Blood – Trabel.com
More Information
- Basilica of the Holy Blood – TripAdvisor.com - user reviews and articles
- Holy Blood Basilica – Virtual Bruges
- A step back in time: A stay in the beautiful city of Bruges – The Independent Online Edition, April 9, 2005
- Bruges museums and other sights – Brugge.be
