The Beguinage is a group of small houses surrounding a garden that were once the dwellings of women called Beguines. Today it is the home of Benedictine nuns. It has been declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.
The Beguinage was established by Margaretha of Constantinople, Countess of Flanders in 1245. Beguines were a group of lay women who lived a strict religious life without taking vows unlike nuns. They were often the widows of crusaders who did not return from war. They earned a living by making lace, teaching young children or nursing the sick. They were headed by a Grande Dame or grand mistress. Her home is the largest and most striking among the buildings in the Beguinage. The last beguine lived here in 1926 and it was converted into a monastery for Benedictine nuns in 1928.
Visitors cross a bridge over a canal to reach the Beguinage. It is still calm and quiet and the venue is intended for prayer and meditation. Visitors are required to observe silence and photography is not allowed. Some houses are converted into a museum showcasing the life led by beguines. A small street at the southern part of the Beguinage has some of the earliest houses that date back to the 15th and 16th centuries.

The Church of Our Lady in Brugge dates mainly from the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. Its tower, at 122.3 meters, is the tallest structure in the city and the second tallest brickwork tower in the world (the tallest being the St. Martin's Church in Landshut, Germany). In the choir space behind the high altar are the tombs of Charles the Bold, last Valois Duke of Burgundy, and his daughter, the duchess Mary. The altarpiece of the large chapel enshrines the most celebrated art treasure of the church, a white marble sculpture of Madonna and Child created by Michelangelo around 1504. Probably meant originally for Siena Cathedral, it was purchased in Italy by two Brugean merchants, the brothers Jan and Alexander Mouscron, who donated it to its present home in 1514. The sculpture was twice recovered after being looted by foreign invaders - French revolutionaries circa 1794 and Nazi Germans in 1944.

The Saint Salvator Cathedral, the main church of the city, was not originally built as a cathedral. Initially, back in the 10th century, it was a common parish church. At that time St Donatian's Cathedral was the central religious building of the city. At the end of the 18th century the French occupants of Brugge evicted the bishop of Brugge and destroyed Saint Donatian's Church. In 1834, a new bishop was installed in Brugge and the Saint Salvator church obtained the status of cathedral. The Saint-Salvator Cathedral currently houses many works of art that were originally stored in its destroyed predecessor. The wall-carpets that can be seen when entering the church were manufactured in Brussels by Jasper van der Borcht in 1731. Saint Salvator also has the original paintings that served as models for the wall-carpets, which make quite a unique combination. The original 16th century choir podium is also in place.

The Basilica of the Holy Blood is a two story church located in the heart of Bruges. It is a place of pilgrimage and contains a valuable relic brought from Constantinople during the crusades.
The Basilica of the Holy Blood is a church constructed in 1134 and 1156 to house a relic brought to Bruges by the Count of Flanders Diederik van de Elzas. It was a piece of cloth used by Joseph of Arimathea to wipe the blood of Christ after the Crucifixion. The cloth with the bloodstain was preserved and brought here after the sacking of Byzantine by the crusader army. The church was declared a minor basilica in 1923.
The Basilica of the Holy Blood has two chapels. The upper chapel dedicated to the Holy Blood is in Gothic architectural style while the lower chapel dedicated and consisting of a relic of St. Basil is in Romanesque style. They are connected by an ornate brick staircase, located behind the façade. The original façade was destroyed during the French occupation of the city and the present one was constructed in the 19th century. The relic of the Holy Blood, preserved in the upper chapel is taken in procession led by the Bishop of Bruges, annually, on Ascension Day.

The original St. Anne's Church was an aisled church, which was later transformed into a three-aisled prayer house. In 1580 it was sold and demolished. In 1611 a new church was raised on the old ruins. The church’s interior is mostly notable for its Baroque architecture. One can also learn about the baptism of the well-known Flemish poet Guido Gezelle, which occurred here in 1830.

The design of the Jerusalem Church in Bruges is based on the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. It was built by a rich merchant and remains a privately owned place of worship maintained by his descendents.
The Jerusalem Church was constructed in 1428 by Anselmus Adornes and his spouse, Margaretha vander Banck. Anselmus Adornes belonged to the wealthy Adorni family of merchants who came from Genoa and settled in Bruges. The ornate mausoleums of the founders created by Cornelis Thieleman are located in the middle of the church. The original structure of the church has remained intact from the 15th century unlike many other churches in Europe.
The Jerusalem Church has a simple façade with a pointed arch above the entrance. The unique part of the structure is the octagonal tower flanked by four polygonal turrets above the choir. A wooden globe is placed on top of the tower symbolizing the world. There is an upper choir above a small nave. Under this choir is a crypt where an imitation of the grave of Christ is located. Sculpture relating to the holy grave symbolized by skulls and ladders are also found in the altar and the nave. The stained glass windows light up the interiors with a beautifully colored glow.

In the 17th century, Brugge became a home for the banished nuns of England. Later, in the early 18th century, the English Convent was built. The Convent boasts an exquisite interior, the marble altar is a rare piece of art. It is known to be the place of death of the famous poet-priest Guido Gezelle, and it is the only domed church located in the medieval part of the city.