Basilica of the Holy Blood and Treasury

In 1134, Thierry of Alsace, Count of Flanders, commissioned the construction of a private double chapel to serve as a residence. The structure was completed in 1157, featuring a lower and upper chapel configuration that remains a significant architectural feature of the site in Bruges.

The lower chapel, dedicated to St. Basil the Great, was built between 1134 and 1149. It stands as a well-preserved example of Romanesque architecture in West Flanders, characterized by its dark interior and original structural layout.

According to tradition, Count Thierry of Alsace returned to Bruges on April 7, 1150, bringing the relic of the Precious Blood from the Holy Land. Modern research suggests it may have arrived later, potentially following the 1204 sack of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade.

The monumental staircase, known as De Steegheere, was constructed between 1529 and 1533. Designed in late Gothic and Renaissance style, it was decorated with statues representing figures such as Mary of Burgundy and Thierry of Alsace.

Following damage during the French Revolution, a decision was made in 1832 to move the monumental staircase four meters backwards. This project involved clearing the remaining ruins of the adjacent Oud Steen residence.

During the 19th century, the upper chapel underwent extensive renovation campaigns to achieve its final Gothic Revival aesthetic. These works included the installation of stained-glass windows in 1845 and involved noted architects such as Jean-Baptiste Bethune and Louis Delacenserie.

In 1923, the institution was officially promoted to the status of a minor basilica, a recognition of its historical and religious significance within the Roman Catholic Church.