The basilica was tucked away in a corner of this plaza hemmed in on one side by City Hall and the…read moreother side by the Basilica of St. Basil. I was able to enter the Basilica before mass and had the opportunity to explore both chapels. Upstairs was the ornate and richly painted chapel with a beautiful wooden ceiling. Downstairs the chapel was quite stark and a bit dark. Quite a contrast between the two different styles. The relic containing the cloth with the blood of Christ was located on a platform overseen by a sitting priest. One queued at the bottom while the person ahead spent time looking at the container. I suggest starting here before exploring the rest of the basilica in case of lines.

Tucked away in the corner of the square laid the church that has a sample cloth of Jesus' blood…read more The church had many wooden pieces and relics. Wonderful place to sit and reflect.

Its 300 ft tall brick tower, the second tallest of the world, illustrates the craftsmanship of the…read moreBruges builders. Since it was Sunday this historic church was closed to the public. Inside we missed art treasures, Michelangelo's world-famous marble Madonna & Child as the absolute highlight. The rich church interior contains numerous paintings, 13th and 14th century painted crypts and the 15th and 16th century tombs of Mary of Burgundy & Charles the Bold.

Aside from the Belfort, one of the church towers dominating the Bruges skyline belongs to this…read morechurch, which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary can be found throughout the Benelux region. While this church does not have cathedral status (that's in Antwerp), it has the distinction of housing the only Michelangelo sculpture to make it outside Italy. LOGISTICS - Church is free to enter, but most of the church's main attractions are sequestered from public view. To access this area costs €6. At the time of visit some parts of the church are under construction. - You can buy a combination ticket that also includes the connecting Gruuthusemuseum for €14. This is worth it if you like to deep-dive into Bruges' history. Highlights - 115.5 meter brick tower, second tallest in the world. - Ceremonial tombs of Mary of Burgundy and Charles the Bold, located in the choir. Charles died in battle, while his daughter Mary died in a horse riding accident. - The aforementioned Michelangelo sculpture of Mary and baby Jesus in Carrara marble. The sculpture was originally meant for Siena Cathedral but was purchased by a Bruges merchant family while in Italy, who then shipped it to Bruges. - Wooden prayer chapel meant for the private worship of the family of Louis of Gruuthuse. While the exterior is seen from this church, the interior is accessed through the connecting Gruuthusemuseum. This church is definitely a highlight of one's trip to Bruges, especially if one has been to Italy beforehand and has seen all of Michelangelo's works.

Unfortunately the cathedral was closed to the public the day I was in Arras. However this church…read morewasn't, which meant we could go inside for a bit of a wander. Actually, being quite close to the centre of town also made it somewhat more attractive, and it was a bit of a hike to the cathedral. Then again Arras is a small town so getting pretty much anywhere is a bit of a hike. However, like a lot of the churches, this one had a gorgeous interior, and is certainly worth stepping inside simply to have a look around. I won't necessarily say that it has character, but it does have a feel about it that make sit a pleasant place to visit.