BEGUINAGES HOMES OF THE CLOSED BEGUINES COMMUNITY
Beuginages were produced during the Crusade, when many men did not return from the expedition. They were a kind of city in the city. They had their own bakery, a brewery, a nursing home or a church. Beguinage was managed by so-called. Grand Mistress, who organized the everyday life of the beguines. Beguines often consisted of production lances or teaching. They had much in common with the religious sisters. Like they lived in a closed community, they vowed obedience, but not poverty. They sacrificed their lives to God without making religious vows.
BEGUINAGE IN LEUVEN
BEGUINAGE IN KORTRIJK
BEGUINAGE IN GHENT
Rich and aristocratic families of beginners could build their own home in the beguinage or buy it. The poorer beguines rented rooms in such homes and often became service workers. They could also live in the so-called. Convents, built for the money of rich sponsors. Beguines living here were supposed to pray for the donor or his family. Poorer beguines have to work to maintain themselves. Men's beguines equivalents were beghards. However, they prevalence much less often.
Over the centuries, the beguines situation has changed. They had to face many dangers. They came from iconoclasts, then Calvinist governments in Ghent, and the French Revolution. Also the Catholic Church did not always look favorably on the phenomenon of beguines. However, despite these adversities survived several hundred years. The last beguines lived beguinages at the end of the 20th century. Today in beguinages live nuns, as it is in Bruges, or the students in the case of Leuven, and ordinary people.
BEGUINAGE IN ANTWERP
BEGUINAGE IN LIER
BEGUINAGE IN BRUGES
BEGUINAGE IN OUDENAARDE
BEGUINAGE IN DIEST
BEGUINAGE IN MECHELEN
BEGUINAGE IN SINT-TRUIDEN
There are currently 23 beguinages in Belgium, 13 of which are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. They are built in the style typical of the Flemish cultural region and are a valuable testimony to the tradition of the beguines, which developed in the Middle Ages in Northwestern Europe.
Strolling along the narrow alleys of the beguinage is a real pleasure. Silence and seclusion allow you to unwind from the hustle and bustle of the city. You can see the wonderful architecture and feel the magic of these unique places. For many, it will also be the first time they will hear about the beguinagess and the beguines living there.
Strolling along the narrow alleys of the beguinage is a real pleasure. Silence and seclusion allow you to unwind from the hustle and bustle of the city. You can see the wonderful architecture and feel the magic of these unique places. For many, it will also be the first time they will hear about the beguinagess and the beguines living there.