Historical buildings as monuments of the World Heritage
The historical monuments of Bruges are each pieces of history. Bruges' city centre can be compared to a history book about architecture styles. For this valuable reason most of these jewels are on the UNESCO list of World Heritage. Go back in time by strolling around in Bruges and behold historical buildings up to nine centuries old! Bruges boasts a collection of art movements from Baroque to Gothic. Especially the old houses of foreing nations in the city centre are impressive to see. This cultural heritage covers so much that it is difficult to depict all ancient buildings of the city. We made a selection from the impressive World Heritage, because naming all the historical buildings would be impossible to do. Below you will already find a few monuments of this city.
- Burghers' Lodge - monument and State Archives
- Stadsschouwburg - monument and city theatre
- Genoese Logde, former houses of foreign nations
- Beguinage - reflection and peace
- Godshouses - almshouses
Burghers' Lodge - monument and State Archives
The Burghers' Lodge (Poortersloge) is situated on the Jan Van Eyck square. Today a historical monument, formerly centre of activity. A few centuries ago, when Bruges was still a very important maritime city, the port was located here. This and the name of the historical building already give away the function of the Burghers' Lodge.
It was built at the end of the 14th and the beginning of the 15th century. It's Late Gothic building. In 1755 the tower was changed because of a fire. A few niches in the building that had never been used before, were given sculptures from a few sculptors of Bruges in 1924. The Burghers' Lodge was the place where the burghers of Bruges held their meetings and where the seat of the knightly joust associasion De Witte Beer (the white beer) was located. In the 18th and 19th century it was the Academy for Fine Art. (The art academy is currently located in the Arsenaalstreet.) Since 1912 untill today the State archives is stored here.
An other well-known and important element of the Burghers' Lodge is 'Brugs Beertje' (beer of Bruges), the oldest resident of the city. The stone beer carries the shield of the joust association.
Stadsschouwburg - monument and city theatre
Before there was talk of the Stadsschouwburg, there was a city theatre since 1756 named 'the Comedy'. It had to be replaced by the Stadsschouwburg. (Translated as city theatre as well - the difference is in the size and the multitude of opportunities it has compared to a normal theatre). To be able to complete the construction of this new theatre a few house blocks had to be demolished. Construction works could start in 1867 and took up two years. The appearance is mainly neo-Renaissance style.
The interior is breathtaking. The theatre is horseshoeshaped with a ground floor and 4 balcony floors, where red and gold are the dominating colours. The - almost literary - crowning glory of the theatre is the enormous impressive crown chandelier with a few hundred lights. The chandelier and basically the whole interior bathe in even greater zest because of the wonderful ceiling paintings.
Untill 2002 almost all spectacles, from theatre to opera, where held here. Part of this cultural offer is now covered by the Concertgebouw programme.
Genoese Logde, former houses of foreign nations
The Genoese Lodge was named after the Italian-Genoese family that came to Bruges in the prestigious Middle Ages to conduct trade. This type of houses possessed by foreign traders or merchants are called houses of foreign nations. The city council, who wanted to promote foreign trade, and as so encourage foreign merchants to stay, gave ground to this family in the Grauwwerkerstreet on the corner with the Vlamingstreet. The construction of this house of foreign nations started in 1399. Around 50 years later the building consisted of a house, a warehouse, a selling area and an assembly room. After the Genoese emigrated in 1551, the building was abandoned.
Today it is also know as the 'Saaihalle' . After a few years of vacancy the serge weavers occupied the building. The people thus gave the building a name, Saaihalle (serge hall), and up to today this name is still used. The Genoese Lodge is one the few preserved houses of foreign nations of Bruges. It is one of the protected city monuments.
Beguinage - reflection and peace
The beguinage of Bruges, Ten Wijngaard, dates back to the 13th century. The earliest proof of the convent is before 1244, the year in which the bishop of Doornik granted the beguinage the statute of independent parish. A year later the beguines could have their own church built. Since 1299 the site didn't even belong to city territory. The then King Filips IV placed it directly under the command of the sovereign. This explains also why the Beguinage carries the title 'Princely Beguinage'.
For many centuries now the function of the institution remains the same, namely a place of reflection and peace. Today the beguinage is also a touristic attraction. The buildings you will behold are unfortunately not from the Middle Ages. The current complex is mainly from the 17th century.
Godshouses - almshouses
Bruges counts with a total of 46 almshouses in the city centre. These houses, small and white, with the name of the founder painted on the facade, where build out of social consideration from the 14th century on. They were mainly destined for seniors and people from a determined trade. In later times they were also for single women or widows. These white almshouses were built by rich families so single women had a place to stay. There was a condition though. In return for the use of these houses these women had to pray for the rich family every day. You might even say that these rich families bought their way in to heaven.
The almshouses were built around an interior garden or in a long row along the street. Sometimes they also had their own chapel. As previously mencioned, they were built as social service, but also out of charity. Today most of these houses are still seniors' residences and are of Social Services' management. Some of these houses received a new function: the almshouses in the balstreet are now the museum of Folklore. The used to be occupied by the shoemaker trade.
The youngest almshouse was built in the 20th century in 1959. It's located on the Blankenbergse Steenweg, not in the city centre.
