St. Salvator’s Cathedral, Bruges, Belgium

St. Salvator’s Cathedral (Sint-Salvatorskathedraal) is the main church of Bruges, Belgium, and the oldest parish church in the city. A church has stood here since the 10th century; the present Gothic brick building was begun around 1250 and took about a century to complete. It became the cathedral in 1834, after the old St. Donatian’s Cathedral had been destroyed during the French occupation. The 99-metre tower, heightened in neo-Romanesque style by the English architect Robert Chantrell after a fire in 1839, is one of the landmarks of the Bruges skyline.

Inside, visitors find medieval tombs, a rood loft carrying the organ of 1717–1719, Flemish paintings from the 14th to the 18th century and a series of Brussels tapestries woven by Jasper van der Borcht in 1731. The treasury shows works by Dieric Bouts, Hugo van der Goes and other Flemish Primitives, along with liturgical silver and manuscripts connected with the history of Bruges.

Visitor Information

The cathedral is quieter than the Belfry or the Church of Our Lady, which makes it a good stop for anyone interested in architecture and art away from the biggest crowds. It is still an active place of worship, so dress respectfully and avoid walking around during services; organ concerts are held here from time to time. The cathedral lies within the historic centre of Bruges, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.

Admission is free, including the treasury. The cathedral is open to visitors from Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 17:30, on Saturday from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 15:30, and on Sunday from 14:00 to 17:00. The treasury is open on weekdays from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 14:00 to 17:00, on Saturday morning until 12:30 and on Sunday from 14:00 to 17:00. Hours can change for services and events, so check before you go.

The cathedral stands on Steenstraat, the main shopping street, a five-minute walk from the Markt and the Belfry and 10–15 minutes on foot from Bruges railway station. It fits easily into a walking tour of the centre together with the nearby Church of Our Lady. City buses run from the station to the centre, and bicycles can be hired all over Bruges.