The story
As you stand here in the quiet Peperstraat, tucked away from the bustling chocolate shops and canal tours of central Bruges, you are stepping into a private world that has remained in the hands of the same family since the fifteenth century. Look up at the building before you. This is the Jerusalem Chapel, a place born from a blend of medieval piety, international trade, and a deep, personal obsession with the Holy Land.
Notice the unusual silhouette of the chapel. That octagonal tower topped with a wooden globe and a cross isn’t just a stylistic choice; it was designed to mirror the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The men who built this, the Adornes family, were wealthy merchants of Genoese origin who rose to become some of the most influential figures in Flanders.
Anselm Adornes, the most famous of the clan, was a knight, a diplomat, and a pilgrim who journeyed to Jerusalem in 1470. He wanted to bring a piece of that sacred city back to his home in Bruges, and as you step through the small doorway, you’ll see he succeeded in the most dramatic way possible. Inside, the atmosphere shifts instantly.
It is dim, cool, and thick with the weight of centuries. In the center of the nave, your eyes will be drawn to the black marble tomb of Anselm himself and his wife, Margareta van der Banck. Even though his heart is the only part of him buried here—the rest of him remains in Scotland where he was tragically murdered—their effigies lie in eternal prayer.
But look past the tomb toward the altar, and you will see something truly extraordinary and perhaps a bit unsettling. This is a "Mount Calvary" altar. It is a macabre, jagged reconstruction of the hill where Christ was crucified, complete with carved skulls, ladders, and the instruments of the Passion.
In the late Middle Ages, this kind of vivid, visceral imagery was meant to provoke a deep emotional response in the faithful. It feels less like a traditional church and more like a private, haunting sanctuary. As you move around the space, take a moment to look at the stained-glass windows.
Some of these date back to 1482 and 1560. They depict the Adornes family members in prayer, forever watching over their creation. This chapel remains a living piece of history, still owned by the Count and Countess de Limburg Stirum, descendants of the Adornes line.
It is a rare, unbroken link to the medieval world, standing as a testament to a time when Bruges was the center of the world and a single family’s faith could build a bridge between the North Sea and the gates of Jerusalem. Take your time in the silence here; the stones have many more stories to tell.