For about 750 years the population of Bruges and its neighbourhood has faithfully and intensively venerated the relic of the Holy Blood. The Noble Brotherhood of the Holy Blood, being aware of the importance attached by the inhabitants of Bruges to their relic make every effort to keep up the tradition. The relic of the Holy Blood is displayed each Friday, before and after the mass, to be venerated by the faithful. (The Bascilica can be entered from Burg square.)

The Bascilica consists of two chapels both date back to the 12th century and were built in a Roman style. Later the Upper Chapel was converted into a neo-gothic style and features beautiful stained glass windows, intricate wall paintings and decorated wooden ceiling. The Upper Chapel is where the treasured relic of the Holy Blood is kept. It is a crystal phial containing a few drops of Chris's blood, which was brought to Brugge from the Holy Land sometime after the Second Crusade. The phial (pictured below) is stored in a silver tabernacle and exhibited every Friday. There is also a museum which displays a collection of vestments, paintings and artefacts.