Hotels near Church of Our Lady

The Church of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk) has the second-tallest brick spire in the world (115.5 metres) and houses Michelangelo's Madonna of Bruges (1504) - the only sculpture by Michelangelo to leave Italy in his lifetime. The white marble Mary, holding the Christ Child standing rather than seated, was bought by Bruges merchant Alexander Mouscron and donated in 1514.

The choir contains the gilded tombs of Mary of Burgundy (died 1482) and her father Charles the Bold of Burgundy. The church museum (EUR 8) covers the choir, tombs, and apse. The nave is free. The work was twice almost lost - Napoleonic troops took it in 1794 and Nazi forces tried to ship it to Germany in 1944, recovered by the Monuments Men.

Pro Tip: Buy the museum ticket if you want to stand within 2 metres of the Madonna - the free nave view is from 15 metres back behind a barrier. Open 9.30am-5pm Mon-Sat (1.30pm-5pm Sun). No flash photography.