Did you know that there are a lot of beautiful beguinages in Belgium? I love exploring them because they are true oases of calm. It feels as if you turned back into time wandering around these narrow old cobblestone streets. Beguinages just have something dreamy and romantic about them and they are free to visit!
Even though the first beguines appeared in the South of the country, Wallonia, there were never real beguinages like the ones you can find in Flanders. In the French speaking part beguines were living together in community houses. So most beguinages in Belgium are situated in Flanders. Thirteen of them are even recognized as UNESCO world heritage sites.
Beguinages were enclosed courts where widows and unmarried women led a religiously inspired but independent life. They took a vow of purity and obedience, but unlike nuns in a monastery, these were often only temporary and they did not take the vow of poverty. The beguines could leave the beguinage whenever they wanted and they provided for their own livelihood by weaving, making lace or embroidering. A beguinage was actually a little village within a town with its own bakery, brewery (hey, it’s Belgium!), nursing home, church and bleach meadows. Most beguinages in Belgium were formed during the time of the crusades, when men often did not return from their journey.
I am planning to visit them all, but I wanted to share the ones I already explored! So this will also be a post that will be updated regularly, also new photos will be added as soon as I revisited a few!
Most beautiful beguinages in Belgium you should visit
Old Beguinage Saint Elisabeth in Ghent – a pink beguinage in Belgium
This beguinage is situated northwest from Ghent’s city center and is no longer walled. These days it is known as the holy corner; a place of tolerance with three different churches; Anglican, Orthodox and Protestant. It flourished in the 13th century and contained over 100 beguine houses.
The most beautiful street of the beguinage is definitely the Provenierstersstraat. It is a narrow car-free cobblestone street with white painted beguine houses, often decorated with flowers. The houses in the other streets are painted pink with white window frames. How can you not love this colorful place? I absolutely loved the look of these houses! So if you are ever in Ghent, do make the effort to visit this quarter!
Location: the area around the Saint Elisabeth church
Great Beguinage of Leuven – one of the largest of the Low Countries
In the south of downtown Leuven you’ll find the largest beguinage in Belgium. During its heyday in the 17th century it contained about 360 beguine houses! These days it is completely restored and consists of about a dozen streets with almost 100 houses. Here you’ll find nice little parks and gardens and convents in traditional sandstone. Most of the houses are now student houses or homes to foreign visiting professors and employees of one of the oldest Catholic universities of Europe.
It is a nice quiet area to wander around and dream away. The small parks give the perfect opportunity to read a book or have a picnic! I love to come here every time I visit Leuven.
Location: between the Saint Jan the Baptist church and Dijlepark
Large Beguinage of Mechelen – the most unique
This beguinage was founded in 1560 after the beguinage situated outside the city walls got destroyed. The beguines bought existing buildings and built new homes. Which explains its unique character compared to the beguinages of other cities. It is situated northwest from Mechelen’s city center.
I love exploring this area during spring when the streets are decorated with lilac and wisteria! The streets smell incredible then and it is wonderful to stroll along all the flowers.
Location: the area around the beguinage church
Beguinage of Antwerp – the hidden beguinage of Belgium
It is probably one of the best hidden beguinages in Belgium, because I never discovered it whily studying in Antwerp for years! Even though it is situated right next to the university in the student quarter! When you walk through the gate of the beguinage of Antwerp, it feels as if you enter a secret garden. It is small and consists of a courtyard surrounded by beguine houses and the cute little Saint Catharina church.
Originally the Antwerp beguinage (Hof Sion) was situated outside the city walls, but it got destroyed (just like the one in Mechelen) in 1542. So the beguines moved inside the city walls and reconstructed a beguinage in 1545.
Location: Rodestraat 39
Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaarde in Bruges
This beguinage with its 30 white painted houses, dating from the late 16th, 17th and 18th century, was founded in 1245. Currently the beguine houses are inhabited by nuns of the Order of Saint Benedict and single women. You’ll find a a gothic beguinage church and a tranquil monastery garden here as well. It is a very popular place to visit in Bruges so I advise to come early!
Location: enter by crossing the Wijngaard bridge or Sas bridge
Beguinage of Lier – the oldest in Belgium
The beguinage of Lier originates from 1258 and consists of eleven narrow streets with 162 houses and several water pumps. Each house has its own name. In the middle of the beguinage you’ll find the Saint Margareta church. The entrance in the Begijnhofstraat is easy to recognize with its monumental bluestone arch which dates from 1690. On top of the gate you’ll discover a terracotta statue of St Begga (1777), the patron saint of the beguines.
The beguinage of Lier is fun to explore because it is quite big and it consists of several different looking streets with a variety of houses. A lot of them are waiting to be bought and renovated, which the city of Lier supports. Some have authentic interiors you can admire from outside through the windows.
Location: entrances at Begijnhofstraat, Schapenkoppenstraat and Stadsvest
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