Right in the middle of the city, all that is best about Bruges and about life in general comes together in a unique cultural site.Whoever enters the Old St. John Site will be amazed by the almost tangible presence of the rich history of Bruges. This is the spot where one of the earliest infirmaries in medieval Europe once stood. During the 19th century, it was home to the St. John’s Hospital, with its large communal wards. Following the closure of the hospital in 1976, these spacious wards were restored and since 1989 have formed part of the Old St. John Congress and Event Centre.