Anselm Adornes

Bruges (1424) - North Berwick (1483)

Knight, merchant, diplomat & pilgrim

The almshouses at the Adornes estate are being restored. To replace the museum, a new exhibition on the life of Anselm Adornes will open in the Pieter rooms, together with a completely new cinema.

His life as a knight, merchant, diplomat and pilgrim can be described as diverse, to say the least. In the exhibition, you will discover the impressive family tree of the Adornes dynasty, from Anselm to the current owners, Count and Countess de Limburg Stirum. Anselm Adornes was a prominent figure in Bruges. He became extremely wealthy thanks to the alum trade, was a formidable opponent in knightly tournaments and was a cunning diplomat for the Dukes of Burgundy. A devout man, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of making a pilgrimage to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Today, his tangible legacy can be found in the Adornes estate: the Jerusalem Chapel.