St. Anne's Church, Brugge

Saint Anne's Church in Bruges is a striking example of architectural and artistic contrasts. This Gothic hall church, initially simple and unassuming from the outside, reveals a lavish Baroque interior, a testament to the generosity of wealthy Bruges citizens throughout its history. The church we see today was consecrated in 1624, replacing an earlier Gothic structure that had stood outside the city's second wall. Its austere exterior, marked by late Gothic lancet windows, belies the rich interior adorned with dark and white marble floors, intricate filigree carvings, and oak panels featuring integrated confessionals.

The interior's centerpiece is the columned high altar, sculpted in 1664 by Cornelius Gailaert, a notable Bruges artist. The church also houses a group of 17th-century figures depicting Saint Anne and the infant Jesus, dressed in robes reminiscent of the Spanish rule over Belgium. This collection further enriches the historical and cultural tapestry of the church.

Artistically, Saint Anne's is renowned for housing Bruges' largest painting, "The Last Judgement" by Hendrik Herregouts, spanning an impressive one hundred square meters. Additionally, the church contains an altarpiece from 1769 by rococo painter Jan Garemijn, illustrating Mary being educated by her mother, Saint Anne.

Saint Anne's Church also holds historical significance for being the baptism and ordination site of Guido Gezelle, a revered Bruges poet born in 1830. The church's baptistery features a chalice-shaped baptismal font crafted in 1630 by J.J. Cock, topped with a gilded cover made by coppersmith Hans Heyndericx.