Charles the Bold - The Splendour of Burgundy

Charles the Bold (1433–1477), the duke who would be king, was an ambitious man who lived during one of the most turbulent transitional periods in European history. Bold in thought and bold in action, he dreamt that his Burgundian territories would one day stretch from Bruges to Dijon. With this aim in mind, he took part in war after war, but soon fell victim to his own ambition, dying at a relatively early age on the battlefield at Nancy. During his short life, he became one of the richest princes in Europe, the living embodiment of the pomp and pageantry of the Burgundian court and a generous patron of the fine arts.
For the very first time, this fascinating and important historical figure has been made the subject of an international exhibition. The Groeninge museum in Bruges will turn the spotlight on the glittering pomp and pageantry of medieval Burgundy, using not only its own collection of Flemish Primitive masterpieces but also a number of exceptional artefacts on loan from some of the greatest museum collections in the world: paintings, suits of armour, tapestries, manuscripts, fine gold and silverware, etc. For the first time in 500 years, the famous Burgunderbeute (Burgundy Booty) will be allowed to leave Switzerland, a treasure trove of unparalleled artistic beauty, which Charles the Bold lost to the Swiss shortly before his death.
The Groeninge museum forms the perfect scene for this prestigious exhibition. Not only is it the home port of the Flemish Primitives, but just around the corner, in the Church of Our Lady, are the tombs of Charles the Bold and his daughter Mary of Burgundy located…

The exhibition will be held under the High Patronage of Their Majesties King Albert II and Queen Paola of Belgium, His Excellency the President of Switzerland and His Imperial and Royal Highness Archduke Karl from Austria.