Church of Our Lady

The Church of Our Lady in Bruges is a Gothic church in Belgian Bruges, built in the XII-XIII centuries.

It is the most romantic and attractive building in the city.

Located in the heart of the city of Bruges, just 200 meters from the Cathedral of the Savior.

The first church built on the site of the modern one dates from the second half of the ninth century. This is evidenced by the bull of Pope Gregory VII in 1075, which notes that the Church of Our Lady for 200 years was under the administration of the congregation of the canons of St. Martin in Bruges.

In 1091 the church became a cathedral, with its own assembly of canons. The prestige of the church grew through the acquisition of relics of highly revered saints.

At the beginning of the XII century, relics were donated to the church, among them the remains of St. Boniface, Bishop of Mainz, who was killed with his companions in June 754 near the Frisland city of Dokkum. The Church of Our Lady also received relics of two of his comrades: Hilarius and Kirobaldus.

In 1116, the church was damaged by fire that devastated much of the city, and a storm in 1711 tore the cross and gutters off the main tower.

During the occupation after the French Revolution in 1789, the building was put up for auction. They agreed to buy their own church.