Convent of the Beguines in Bruges

The Beguines Monastery in Bruges is a community of lonely beguines in Flanders and the Netherlands. Beguinages became widespread in the Lower Countries in the 13th century. The Beguinage in Bruges today can be safely called a monastery, since the nuns of the Order of St. Benedict currently live here, but the first beguines, for whom this place was organized, were not real nuns.

Beguinage

The Beguines Monastery in Bruges was founded by a women's settlement, women come here voluntarily, it is not necessary for them to adhere to faith in God and take full-fledged vows. At the same time, you must take an oath to lead a decent lifestyle and obey the abbess. In fact, most of the women who lived here were believers.

For the first time, such women's communities as the Beguines Monastery in Bruges appeared in the city of Liege and then spread throughout Europe. The Beguinage in Bruges was built by a Flemish Countess in the early 13th century. Many women needed support at that time, men went on crusades and often never returned, so such settlements were a place of refuge and mutual assistance. At the same time, a woman could always leave and start a family or just move to another place.

Territory

The Beguines Monastery in Bruges is surrounded by an impressive fence, but the entrance is free for everyone. The houses are lined up in even rows, the distance between them is not large at all, it seems that they stand close to each other. Everything is painted white, the roofs, windows, doors and other details of the buildings are all in the same style and look very decent. There is a private garden and many well-groomed beautiful flower beds, it is said that previously all the free land here was planted with various beds, apparently for the needs of the community. The former abbess's house stands apart, and now a museum has been organized here, where you can see how modest the life of the beguines living here really was. On the territory of the Beguines Monastery in Bruges there is a small chapel and the Church of St. Elizabeth, the patroness of the Beguines.

St. Elizabeth's Church

The church appeared later than the main buildings, but its interior dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Everything is as modest here as in the rest of the territory of the Beguines Monastery in Bruges, but at the same time there is everything you need. In the altar part there is an image of St. Elizabeth, there are beautiful elements of carved wood. Visiting this quiet and peaceful place can leave only the most favorable impressions. Beauty, purity and peace reign in this place. Swans swim in the canal around the territory, they are not afraid of people at all and do not mind receiving a small treat as a sign of friendly greeting.