St. Donaas Proosdij Bruges

St. Donaaskerk used to be here, later it became St. Donaas Cathedral when the diocese of Bruges was founded in 1559.

In 1127 the count of Flanders, Charles the Good, was murdered in this church.

In 1794, after the second French invasion , Bishop Felix Brenart fled the city and the cathedral was expropriated as a 'national asset' . On April 28, 1799, she was publicly sold and completely demolished in the following years. Numerous churches and abbeys in France and the Low Countries suffered the same fate, including the Abbey of Saint Michael in Antwerp, the Church of Our Lady in Ghent, the Cathedral of Saint Lambert in Liège, and the Abbey of Villers.

The current building from 1665-1666 was built in a triumphal baroque style typical of the Counter-Reformation.

The monumental door was an entrance gate for horses and carriages. On top is Lady Justice and on the top pediment are the Greek gods of truth, charity and justice .

It is now the official residence of the governor of West Flanders.

Willem Vandenameele