Begijnhof description and photos - Belgium: Bruges (Topic)

Begijnhof description and photos - Belgium: Bruges. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Begijnhof.

Photo and description

Beguinage is a settlement of lonely beguins within the city of Flanders and the Netherlands, which is an architectural ensemble consisting of residential buildings with cells and a chapel around a courtyard used for a vegetable garden or planted with flowers ... The runners led an almost monastic lifestyle, but at the same time they did not take a vow of celibacy and did not donate their property to the community. They were engaged in handicrafts, raising orphans, caring for the sick and the elderly.

Currently, elderly people, students and artists live in the beguinages. However, many have been turned into museum complexes, only a few have managed to preserve monastic life.

In Bruges, the beguinage is one of the main city attractions. It is located on the shores of Lake Minnewater. After crossing the bridge through the gate with the inscription: “1776”, you will find yourself along a paved path, planted with elms, into an irregularly shaped courtyard, around which low dwellings of beguines are built. On the north side is the Church of St. Elizabeth, and on the east side is the abbess's house adjoining the chapel, whose simplicity epitomizes charity and religious life in Flanders.

We also recommend reading Narryna Heritage Museum description and photos - Australia: Hobart (Tasmania)

Topic: Begijnhof description and photos - Belgium: Bruges.