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Church · Bruges, Flandres Ocidental
Jeruzalemkerk
Private chapel of the Adornes family, merchants of Genoese origin, built from 1428 and inspired by the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. It houses the tomb of Anselm Adornes and his wife, a crypt with a replica of Christ’s tomb and a museum in the former almshouses.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Jeruzalemkerk
The Jeruzalemkerk is the private chapel of the Adornes estate, in the Sint-Anna quarter, east of the Markt. The Adornes family, of Genoese origin, made a fortune in Bruges through trade and held offices in the city. Construction began in 1428 under the brothers Pieter II and Jacob Adornes, and the chapel was consecrated the following year.
The design evokes the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the family's pilgrimage destination. The tower has a silhouette unlike anything around it, and inside the nave rises in steps to a high altar decorated with skulls and instruments of the Passion. Beneath is a crypt containing a replica of Christ's tomb.
In the center of the nave is the tomb of Anselm Adornes and his wife, Margriet van der Banck. Anselm, Pieter's son, was a diplomat and advisor to King James III of Scotland and walked on pilgrimage to Jerusalem between 1470 and 1471. He died in Scotland in 1483 and was buried there, but his heart was brought to this chapel.
The estate includes the family's former charitable houses, which house a museum about the Adornes' history and the pilgrimage. The site remains in the hands of descendants, who oversee visits.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About an hour for the chapel, the crypt and the museum in the charitable houses.
Best time
It is usually open Monday to Saturday and closed on Sundays. The chapel is small: mornings or late afternoons are quieter. Check the opening days before you go.
How to get there
It is on Peperstraat, in the Sint-Anna quarter, about a 10-minute walk from the Markt along Sint-Annarei. From the Sint-Janshuismolen windmill on the Kruisvest it is only a few minutes on foot.
Tip
Go down to the crypt to see the replica of Christ's tomb and then climb the steps of the nave to view the altar up close. Next door is the Bruges Lace Centre, which can be visited during the same walk around the quarter.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Jeruzalemkerk
Why is the chapel called Jeruzalemkerk?
Because it was inspired by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, a pilgrimage destination for the Adornes family. In the crypt there is a replica of Christ's tomb.
Who was Anselm Adornes?
A merchant and diplomat from Bruges, born in 1424. He served King James III of Scotland and made the pilgrimage on foot to Jerusalem between 1470 and 1471. His tomb, together with his wife's, is located in the center of the chapel.
Was the chapel built by Anselm Adornes?
No. Construction began in 1428, under Pieter II and Jacob Adornes, when Anselm was still a child. He enriched the chapel after the pilgrimage.