http://www.exploringmonkey.com/176/church-of-our-lady-statue-of-madonna-and-the-child-bruges-belgium-part-2/ Hot Travel Spots, Cool Nightlife & Shopping Guide Mon, 09 Mar 2009 04:56:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 http://www.exploringmonkey.com/176/church-of-our-lady-statue-of-madonna-and-the-child-bruges-belgium-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-401 Traveling within Bruges (Brugge), Belgium - Transport Information Sun, 16 Mar 2008 01:25:15 +0000 http://www.exploringmonkey.com/176/church-of-our-lady-statue-of-madonna-and-the-child-bruges-belgium-part-2/#comment-401 [...] Belfry (Belfort) of Bruges . Church of Our Lady & Statue of Madonna and the Child - Part 1 ; Part 2 The Beguinage (Begijnhof) of Bruges Basilica of the Holy Blood (Heilige Bloed Basiliek)- Part [...] [...] Belfry (Belfort) of Bruges . Church of Our Lady & Statue of Madonna and the Child – Part 1 ; Part 2 The Beguinage (Begijnhof) of Bruges Basilica of the Holy Blood (Heilige Bloed Basiliek)- Part [...]

]]> http://www.exploringmonkey.com/176/church-of-our-lady-statue-of-madonna-and-the-child-bruges-belgium-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-341 Church of Our Lady & Statue of Madonna and the Child - Bruges, Belgium: Part 1 Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:52:32 +0000 http://www.exploringmonkey.com/176/church-of-our-lady-statue-of-madonna-and-the-child-bruges-belgium-part-2/#comment-341 [...] A good walk further south of the Markt Square, off Mariastraat is located the Church of our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk), famous for the amazing Michelangelo Sculpture of Madonna and the Child. The church dates back to the 13th century and even today this remains the tallest structure in the city with its tower at over 400 ft. (122m). This church has the tombs of Charles the Bold and his daughter the duchess Mary. Inside the church it’s magnificent. The artwork, the imposing high ceiling, the sheer feel of the place are amazing. You can actually “feel” the antiquity of the place. And of course the famed statue – it’s remarkable.    The Bruges Madonna was one of Michelangelo’s early works and the only one to leave Italy during his lifetime. It was sculpted around 1504 A.D. shortly after the Pieta. It was bought by two brothers who were cloth merchants in Bruges. This family, the Mouscrons, donated the statue to the Church. The sculpture has had its own share of adventure over the centuries – initially, in the late 16th century during the “Counter-Reformation” or “Catholic Reformation” this statue remained covered because it depicted nudity. Later, the French seized it after they took over Belgium in 1792. The statue was returned after Napoleon’s defeat. Then in 1944 (during Second World War), the Germans took it and was later retrieved by American troops after the end of war.  CONTINUED IN PART 2 [...] [...] A good walk further south of the Markt Square, off Mariastraat is located the Church of our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk), famous for the amazing Michelangelo Sculpture of Madonna and the Child. The church dates back to the 13th century and even today this remains the tallest structure in the city with its tower at over 400 ft. (122m). This church has the tombs of Charles the Bold and his daughter the duchess Mary. Inside the church it’s magnificent. The artwork, the imposing high ceiling, the sheer feel of the place are amazing. You can actually “feel” the antiquity of the place. And of course the famed statue – it’s remarkable.    The Bruges Madonna was one of Michelangelo’s early works and the only one to leave Italy during his lifetime. It was sculpted around 1504 A.D. shortly after the Pieta. It was bought by two brothers who were cloth merchants in Bruges. This family, the Mouscrons, donated the statue to the Church. The sculpture has had its own share of adventure over the centuries – initially, in the late 16th century during the “Counter-Reformation” or “Catholic Reformation” this statue remained covered because it depicted nudity. Later, the French seized it after they took over Belgium in 1792. The statue was returned after Napoleon’s defeat. Then in 1944 (during Second World War), the Germans took it and was later retrieved by American troops after the end of war.  CONTINUED IN PART 2 [...]

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