Basilica of the Holy Blood
Basilica of the Holy Blood
Basilica of the Holy Blood
4.5
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM, 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
2:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
2:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
2:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
2:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
2:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
2:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
2:00 PM - 5:30 PM
About
This chapel contains a phial that reputedly contains Christ's blood brought back from the Crusades.
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Address
Neighbourhood: St-anna
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See what travellers are saying
- Lentara71Houston, Texas140 contributionsOverrated but great if you can go.It’s basically intriguing. I would not go out of my way to see this, BUT if you were in the area, do go. The basilica can be easily missed. It is the black building in Burg Square. Admission is free, but feel free to leave a donation. The vial of blood is heavily guarded on display. There is no talking or pictures allowed. It’s a vial of blood. It is what it is!Visited December 2023Travelled with familyWritten 26 December 2023
- Sarah LLondon, United Kingdom3,535 contributionsHoly relicCame here during a day trip to Bruges and the queue was outside the door but thankfully moved quickly and we were inside within 20mins or so. There is no entrance fee and they do request you to maintain silence whilst queuing and inside. It is a stunning church though quite small. The main reason people visit is to see the holy relic supposedly containing Christ's blood but you pay a bit extra to do that.Visited December 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 4 January 2024
- RugbynuggetNottingham, United Kingdom397 contributionsBe prepared for rude visitorsThis church is a sacred place, containing what is purported to be a file containing Christs blood. You can pay respects to the file whilst in the church. However our visit was spoilt by other visitors who didn't seem to have any respect for the building and were loud. There are signs everywhere asking for silence which are ignored.Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 1 March 2024
- James G34 contributionsBeautiful medieval chapelTucked away in a corner of the Burg square, this is a little gem. Exquisite and beautifully restored medieval chapels with interesting back story. Try to visit at either end of the day when the crowds aren’t there.Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 11 June 2024
- KSCarlisle, United Kingdom47 contributionsMoving. Worth a visitWorth a visit. Tucked away in the corner of one of the city’s squares please look out for it and make sure you pay a visit. I found the experience quite moving. Visit between 12-4pm for viewing of the blood.Visited July 2024Travelled with familyWritten 3 July 2024
- Michael FPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania1,073 contributionsWorth a quick pop-inNot a destination that will take you significant time nor one I would say you must prioritize unless you are a devout catholic, this small church is free to the public and runs on donations. Inside you'll find a lot of things typical of a church. However, what is unique is the opportunity to queue up to see an artifact which is said to be the Blood of Christ. It is presented for viewing daily, guard by a priest. The hours variety a bit by the season but are clearly posted in multiple languages.Visited May 2024Travelled soloWritten 12 July 2024
- Heather SGlasgow, United Kingdom7 contributionsBasilica of the Holy Blood, BrugeThe church was absolutely beautiful, the murals painted on the walls were absolutely stunning. We arrived at the church for the viewing of Christ's blood and waited in line, the queue went down very quickly and did not have long to wait. We are not religious but to see this is just awe inspiring. It is very quiet as there is people praying when they see this religious artefact. It is a very small unassuming building in the right hand corner of the square but it has made a very big lasting impact and I am so glad I have visited this church. I would highly recommend a visit.Visited July 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 14 August 2024
- Olaf Johansen27 contributionsSacred relic in a beautiful basilica!The Basilica of the Holy Blood is an important religious site with a stunning interior. The relic of the Holy Blood, said to contain drops of Christ's blood, is an awe-inspiring sight. The lower chapel is atmospheric and peaceful. The upper chapel is a contrast with its vibrant Gothic design. A must-visit for its spiritual and historical significance.Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 27 August 2024
- CColumbusJacksonville, Florida1,314 contributionsBreath taking interior.The Basiliek was outstanding. The interior is so very beautiful and the lighting,atmosphere and colors were incredible. I have been lucky enough to visit many such places but this is quite incredible. If you want to see the holy blood then it is on display after 2pm and you walk up to the alter and pass by the glass cabinet that contains the blood. The blood is on a piece of cloth from the robe that Jesus wore. I had to go round twice after thinking it was going to be just a vial of his blood. The Basiliek is well worth the visit.Visited October 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 1 October 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
5,189 reviews
Excellent
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434
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74
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39
Sarah L
London, UK3,535 contributions
Dec 2023 • Friends
Came here during a day trip to Bruges and the queue was outside the door but thankfully moved quickly and we were inside within 20mins or so. There is no entrance fee and they do request you to maintain silence whilst queuing and inside. It is a stunning church though quite small. The main reason people visit is to see the holy relic supposedly containing Christ's blood but you pay a bit extra to do that.
Written 4 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jbg74
Saint Paul, MN1,098 contributions
May 2022
This is a great, wooden, Gothic chapel and well worth a visit. The chapel is free and beautiful but there is a 5 euro fee for entry to the one room museum. I didn't mind paying for the museum since they need to maintain the chapel but the best part is the free part if you don't want to or can't afford to pay.
Written 30 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jenny W
York, UK195 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
When we arrived there was a crowd coming out but they were an organised tour. For us, the church was quiet and the believers took the steps up to pay homage to the phial in front of a colourfully dressed cleric. It’s worth visiting just to see the gaudy medieval style decoration of the church and the very unusual cauldron shaped pulpit complete with canopy.
Written 28 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DunelmArts
Aberdeen, UK1,172 contributions
May 2022
Tucked into a corner of The Burg, the historic Catholic Basilica of the Holy Blood houses the religious relic of a cloth said to contain drops of the blood of Jesus Christ. Free to enter, there is also a museum which has a small admission charge. If you’re in the Burg square, it’s worth making the time to visit this stunning church.
Written 30 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anyanka00
Bruges, Belgium213 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
This is a must visit if you’re ever in Bruges. Non-believers and believers alike can appreciate the beauty of the place. Up a large, turret style staircase leads you to this small church, which is much larger than how it appears from the outside.
If you visit at certain times, you can also see the holy blood.
If you visit at certain times, you can also see the holy blood.
Written 18 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mrs S F
5 contributions
Mar 2019 • Family
Extraordinary basilica with the relic of Christ’s blood available for viewing. Most definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area. The architecture is stunning and something astinishing to see everywhere you look both inside and out.
Written 18 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Herbert C
1,791 contributions
Nov 2022 • Couples
Located in Burg Square and dating back to the 12th century, one can truly appreciate the rich architecture and history of this Romanesque-style basilica which has withstood the ups and downs of Bruges over the centuries. Famed for being the repository of a vial containing the blood of Christ, this basilica comprises a lower and upper chapel. Not to be missed are the stained glass windows, the unique wood-panel ceiling, the De Steegheere staircase, gilded bronze statues and the mural decorations of the interior wall. The chapels are accessible for free to visitors, but admission fee is charged for the Treasury Chamber. A worthwhile stopover whilst in Burg Square!
Written 14 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Liefhebber
Breda, The Netherlands8,606 contributions
Nov 2019
Very beautiful exterior and interior decorations at and in this basilica of the Holy Blood. It consists of two chapels on top of each other. The lower chapel is the Saint Basil Chapel, which was built in the 12th century. This is the only completely preserved Romanesque-style church of West Flanders. The holy relic contains a cloth with blood of Jezus Christ which can be seen between 14.00 and 15.00 a.m.
The basilica has free entrance, exept if you want to take a look at the relic you pay
€ 2,50 p.p. Very recommandable! (visited pre Covid).
The basilica has free entrance, exept if you want to take a look at the relic you pay
€ 2,50 p.p. Very recommandable! (visited pre Covid).
Written 1 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
notyourtype
Porto, Portugal678 contributions
Oct 2021 • Family
The church is located near the main church. When you see a building with a gold, it should be the church. You can enter the building for free from morning until around 17:00
You must not make any noise. You are allow to take some pictures. They have paid tour inside the church if you are interested.
The decorations look beautiful and amazing. You can pray in the church. They have stairs to go upstairs. We visit with our 70+ years old father, and he made it.
You must not make any noise. You are allow to take some pictures. They have paid tour inside the church if you are interested.
The decorations look beautiful and amazing. You can pray in the church. They have stairs to go upstairs. We visit with our 70+ years old father, and he made it.
Written 1 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janet K
Houston, TX4,327 contributions
Apr 2023
I would suggest not missing this when you are in Bruges. The church is unique and worth visiting and, Of course, it is very special to see how the blood of Christ is shown. The museum is one room and small but the items are interesting if one would like to give 5 euros as basically a donation.
Written 20 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Excuse me, I do not have hotels by the sea to indicate.
Written 4 July 2019
Between about 10-12 and about 2-4 I can’t remember exactly. The times were slightly different from the guide book we had so it’s worth checking beforehand.
There’s a board outside the chapel. If you get there with little time to spare go straight up the stairs to the right as it’s in the upper chapel. You can go in the lower one as well.
Written 25 April 2019
Silly question however are you able to take photos in here? I want to know whether I would be able to photograph on my camera?
Thanks!
Written 11 October 2017
Definitely no flash allowed and as far as I could tell you would not be able to take any photos at all of the holy vial itself
Written 17 October 2017
Hi!! Does anyone know the dates and times you can witness the relic?
Written 21 September 2017
The visitbruges.be website states that the veneration of the relic happens daily between 11:30am-12:00pm and 2:00pm-4:00pm.
Written 22 September 2017
В какое время можно гарантировано увидеть капсулу со священной кровью Христа?
Written 6 January 2017
В 11.00 точно, на 15 минут достанут коробочку с лоскутом, на котором капля крови Христа. но каждый ли день или нет - уточните
Written 10 January 2017
Do I need to book to attend? Is there usually queues? Best time to visit?
Written 3 August 2016
There is no fee to get in the church, but a small fee for the museum. There was no queue when I went, afternoon on a Saturday...
Written 8 August 2016
Hello, can anyone tell me if there is a specific day or time to see the Holy Blood? Their website doesn't give any information on it and I've read a lot of conflicting answers. Thanks!
Written 1 April 2015
I was just there last month and as my hotel was around the corner an early morning visit was great about 9am. Visit the relics room, small but very beautiful. If you have not chosen a hotel and need one. Grand Hotel Casselbergh is fantastic and very centrally located.
Happy Travels!
Written 11 April 2015
No. There was no fee. You can make a donation but there is no compulsion. The church is beautiful. Enjoy.
Written 22 January 2015
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