2 Best Sights in Bruges, Bruges and the Coast

The tremendous holdings of this gallery give you the makings for a crash course in the Flemish Primitives and their successors. Petrus Christus, Hugo van der Goes, Hieronymus Bosch, Rogier van der Weyden, Gerard David, Pieter Bruegel (both Elder and Younger), Pieter Pourbus—all the greats are represented. Here you can see Jan van Eyck's wonderfully realistic Madonna with Canon Van der Paele. There's also one of Hans Memling's greatest works, the Moreel Triptych. As if this weren't enough, the museum also encompasses a strong display of 15th- to 21st-century Dutch and Belgian works, sweeping through to Surrealist and modern art. The Groeninge is set back from the street in a pocket-size park behind a medieval gate. It isn't a huge museum; nonetheless, its riches warrant a full morning or afternoon. An audio guide is available in English.

This is one of the oldest surviving medieval hospitals in Europe. It was founded in the 12th century and remained in use as a care center for rich and poor until the early 20th century, when more modern facilities became available. The museum today hosts a themed exhibition on Care and Hospitality, using pathos and humor to juxtapose ancient art, modern art, and old medical equipment. One highlight in a separate glass-walled gallery---if slightly off-topic---is a collection of major works by Hans Memling (1440–94) that are of breathtaking quality and rank among the greatest—and certainly the most spiritual—of the Flemish Primitives school. Memling was born in Germany but spent the greater part of his life in Bruges. Don't miss the hospital's pharmacy, accessed through a separate entrance beside the museum. It was established in 1643 and has been restored to how it would have looked in its early days. Incredibly, it remained in use until 1971.