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Jean-Brunon Walking Tour

Discover 19th-century Bruges through the eyes of the city architect

Jean-Brunon Rudd was the son of carpenter Joseph Rudd from England and Marie Dankaert from Bruges. He himself remained unmarried and lived much of his life in this townhouse at Riddersstraat 6.

 

He was the city architect of Bruges between 1830 and 1870. During his 40-year career, he was able to leave his mark on Bruges' townscape. He designed new buildings and was involved in numerous adjustments to the urban configuration.

 

The walking route takes you along his most important achievements and guides you through Bruges' world heritage.

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ACHIEVEMENTS

His preferred style was neoclassicism, with which his realisations became strong defining features in some parts of the city. Some examples:

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  • Vlamingstraat 3-5-7 (1849-1850)

  • Rue du Monnaie 17 (1850)

  • Sint-Amandstraat 46 (corner of Geldmuntstraat) (1860)

 

Together with architect Isidore Alleweireldt, he may be considered the most important neo-classical architect in Bruges.

As city architect, he drew for, among others:

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  • The concert hall in Sint-Jacobsstraat (1830)

  • The slaughterhouse (1842-1843)

  • The conversion of the former Jesuit college into an Athenaeum and State middle school

  • Several city schools, including this one in Ganzenstraat

  • Street lamps, bridges, pumps

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He also carried out restoration work, sometimes very radical. Among others:

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  • the staircase of the Holy Blood Chapel (reconstruction 1837)

  • the fireplace of the Brugse Vrije (1845)

  • the spire of Our Lady's Church (reconstruction 1852-1857)

  • the town hall façade (1852-1863)

  • the Blinde-Ezel bridge, connecting the Vismarkt and Burg markets

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