St. Saviour’s Cathedral

Saint Saviour's Cathedral, the oldest religious building of Bruges

Saint Saviour's Cathedral is the oldest religious building of Bruges. Its origins go back to the tenth century and its construction continued for centuries. The Bruges audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this great Gothic brick church, a witness of the spiritual past of the city.

A church with tenth-century origins

The first stone of Saint Saviour's Cathedral, the Sint-Salvatorskathedraal, dates from the tenth century, which makes it the oldest church of Bruges. First a parish church, it was built and remodelled from the twelfth to the fifteenth century, in a Gothic style entirely in brick. Having become a cathedral, it culminates at about ninety-nine metres and houses many artworks.

What to see

You admire the Gothic brick architecture, the high tower and a rich interior housing paintings, tapestries and treasures of religious art. The cathedral, older but more discreet than the neighbouring Notre-Dame church, offers a dive into the spiritual heritage of Bruges. It is a stop for lovers of sacred art and history.

Practical information

Saint Saviour's Cathedral lies in the heart of the old town of Bruges, reachable on foot. A working Catholic place of worship, it can be visited with respect for services; entry to the cathedral is generally free, while the visit of its treasury may be subject to conditions. Hours vary with the season.

Why is Saint Saviour's Cathedral important?

Because it is the oldest religious building of Bruges, whose origins go back to the tenth century, now a Gothic brick cathedral.

What is the style of Saint Saviour's Cathedral?

A Gothic style, entirely built in brick, culminating at about ninety-nine metres, in the heart of Bruges.