Begijnhof, A serene sanctuary of timeless tranquility

Medieval church

4.6

Introduction

The Beguinage is one of the three major world heritage sites in Bruges. This historic place has a history of 800 years and is still in use today. It originated during the Crusades, when many widows gathered on the outskirts of the city to help each other survive and receive support from the wealthy. In 1245, during the reign of the Duke of Flanders in Bruges, the Duchess built this residence. The women here lived in specific secular convents, adhered to certain rules and regulations, but were relatively free and even allowed to work outside, without the constraints of church vows. This form of women's mutual aid existed in many lowland countries in Western Europe and was somewhat similar to Buddhist monasticism. The Beguinage is located by the beautiful River of Love, with lush vegetation and picturesque buildings with white walls and red tiles. It has now been converted into a museum, perfectly recreating the atmosphere of the past. Stepping into the museum is like going back in time, as people get lost in the flow of history and experience the breath of ancient life.