Guido Geselle Museum

The Guido Geselle Museum tells about the work of the Flemish poet and shows how the life of people in the middle and end of the 21st century was structured. This institution brings together connoisseurs of the poet’s work and everyone who loves or studies the art of poetry. However, entry is free for anyone who wants to see the exhibits.

History of the Guido Geselle Museum

The poet was born in Bruges, his mother from a simple peasant family, his father a city gardener. Guido was a Catholic priest by profession. Due to his inquisitive and lively mind, he was fluent not only in his native language, but also in 15 others, some of which were ancient. He had an excellent education and diligently devoted himself to science.

The guide at the Guido Geselle Museum can tell you that at the dawn of poetic creativity he was not accepted, because at that time most authors wrote in the style of romanticism, and his works were written in “living” verse. He did not write anything for 30 years, but later he became practically the founder of the current trend in poetry.

Time changes, and people's tastes change with it; as it turned out, Gazelle's poems were a little ahead of their contemporaries. Thus, already in old age, he gained not only recognition, but also associates and followers. He created a school of poets who wrote in a living and vibrant language, leaving behind a great legacy. His work contains a lot of nature, air, colors and movement. He also described peasant life, which was simple and understandable; he saw beauty and harmony in it. He wrote his works in Dutch, with an emphasis on the West Flemish dialect.

He died in his home at the age of 69; a monument was erected posthumously in his small courtyard to the writer; it is also a gathering place for the city’s creative intelligentsia.

Features of the Guido Geselle Museum

It was discovered in the poet’s home, where he lived from birth. The furnishings in some rooms have been preserved from those very times, there are even Gazelle’s personal belongings, but everything is quite modest. Visitors to the Guido Geselle Museum can also get acquainted with his work; for connoisseurs this will be especially interesting. There are books and books that he read, as well as documents with which he worked.

Next to the small red brick house there is a neat garden, because the poet’s father was a gardener. The monument to Guido Gazella stands among beautiful flowers.

Admission to the Guido Geselle Museum is free for everyone. Even those who are not familiar with the poet’s work will be interested to see the way of life of ordinary residents of Bruges at the end of the 19th century.