Page 118 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

116  BEL GIUM AND L UXEMBOURG REGION B Y REGION

a painter and sculptor born in possessions is the incredibly
Bruges of Welsh parents. His lifelike wood and terracotta
father, William Curtis Brangwyn, bust of the Habsburg king
was an architect and painter, Charles V carved in 1520. This
and one of a number of British is attributed to the German
residents closely involved in the sculptor Konrad Meit. There are
res toration of Bruges in the 19th also a number of artifacts
century. Most of Frank Brangwyn’s recalling the exile of Charles II
life was spent in Britain, but he of England in Bruges. On the
bequeathed this collection to second floor is a wooden chapel
Bruges, along with his carpets, built in 1472 with a private
drawings and furniture. His window into the Onthaalkerk
dark and powerful canvases Onze-Lieve-Vrouw next door.
depict ing industrial scenes
The stately, pale brick tower of are particularly striking, and
St-Salvatorskathedraal, Bruges overall this is a surprising
and rewarding collection.
R St-Salvatorskathedraal
St-Salvatorskerkhof 1. Tel (050) 336188. E Gruuthuse Museum
Open 10am–1pm & 2–5:30pm Mon– Dijver 17. Tel (050) 448743.
Fri, 10am–1pm & 2–3:30pm Sat, Open 9:30am–5pm daily once
11:30am–noon & 2–5pm Sun. & renovations completed late 2017. &
Originally built as a parish church Occupying a large medieval
between the 12th and 15th mansion close to the Dijver
centuries, this brick build ing Canal, the Gruuthuse Museum
became Bruges’s cathedral in holds a priceless collec tion of
1834, following the destruc tion fine and applied arts. These
of the Cathedral of St Donation date from Bruges’s heyday as
in the Burg (see p112), by the a wealthy trading city, and the
French army in 1799. The subsequent centuries.
enormous but plain interior In the 15th century, the
of the building is offset by building was inhabited by the
the elaborate Baroque organ, merchant (or lord of the The soaring spire of the eclectic
adorned with angels, which was Gruuthuse) who had the Onthaalkerk Onze-Lieve-Vrouw
installed in 1682. The choir stalls exclusive right to levy a tax on
are decorated with the coats of gruut – an imported mix ture of R Onthaalkerk Onze-
arms belonging to knights of the herbs added to bar ley during Lieve-Vrouw
Order of the Golden Fleece, the beer-brewing process. The Mariastraat. Tel (050) 345314.
dating from a convention held mansion’s laby rinthine rooms, Open 9:30am–4:30pm Sat, noon–
in 1478. The order, founded by with their ancient chimney 4:30pm Sun. Closed for tours during
Philip the Good in Bruges in pieces and wooden beams, services. & choir only.
1430, called together many of have survived intact. Nowa days, ∑ museabrugge.be
Europe’s rulers and powerbrokers they house woodcarvings, The construction of the
to settle disputes and uphold musical instruments, weapons, Onthaalkerk Onze-Lieve-Vrouw
the ideals of Christianity and furniture and tapestries. There is (the Welcome Church of Our
chivalry. Above the choir stalls even a medical section devoted Lady) began in 1220 and ended
hang handsome Brussels to cures of everyday ailments 200 years later. In consequence,
tapestries that date back to such as haemorrhoids. One of it incorporates a variety of
the early 18th century and the museum’s most treasured architectural styles. Its 122-m
depict scenes from the Bible.
E Arentshuis
Dijver 16. Tel (050) 448763.
Open 9:30am–5pm Tue–Sun. &
∑ museabrugge.be
An 18th-century mansion
overlooking the Dijver Canal,
the Arentshuis is now an annexe
of the Groeninge Museum (see
pp118–19), which stands nearby.
The ground floor is used to
house temporary exhibitions.
On the first floor are works by
Frank Brangwyn (1867–1956), An elaborate tapestry depicting the “free arts”, Gruuthuse Museum
For hotels and restaurants see pp266–7 and pp283–4

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