St. Elisabeth's Hospital

The extensive complex of the Sint-Elisabethgasthuis - the only preserved medieval religious complex in Aarschot after the Beguinage - dominates the Gasthuisstraat. It illustrates the historical evolution of this medieval hospital, which was re-established in 1655 by the Grey Sisters of Sint-Annadal in Diest and was transformed into a Civil Hospital after the French Revolution. The heterogeneous building stock offers a fascinating overview of successive architectural movements: the oldest core with the monastery buildings (1655-1706) in traditional brick and sandstone style, a later extension (1767) in Louis XV style, the neoclassical 'new guest house' (1840) by Van Arenbergh and the neo-Gothic chapel (1905) by Langerock. The old monastery buildings, which were partially rebuilt after the Second World War, also bear witness to the restoration mentality that prevailed at the time. In addition, they still contain original interior elements, including a completely preserved pharmacy from 1767. In 1967, a new building was built in the former monastery garden and finally a row of houses, adjacent to the chapel, which is important from an architectural-urban planning point of view as a rental complex of seven individual houses in neo-traditional style, each with its own design and decoration.

Source: https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/erfgoedobjecten/41427

Rudy Wuyts