Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaerde - Bruges

The complex includes the Beguinage Church and about thirty white-painted houses , most of which date from the late 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The enclosed courtyard garden gives you a wonderful insight into the serene life of the beguines of the past.

In the spring, when the Easter flowers bloom in the lawn, the garden is at its best. Numerous wedding photos are taken here then.

The main gated entrance can be reached via the three-arched stone bridge, the Wijngaardbrug. In a niche you can see the statue of Saint Elisabeth of Hungary, patroness of many beguinages and also of the Bruges beguinage. A remarkable fact is that, following an age-old tradition, the gate is still closed every evening at 6.30 pm . A second gate provides access to the Sashuis via the Sasbrug. To this day, there is the same calm and welcoming atmosphere, ready to be admired. So quickly venture into the wonderful little world of the Bruges beguinage. When you walk across the bridge of the Beguinage Ten Wijngaarde, you will undoubtedly notice the silence. The atmosphere there is still the same as in 1244, when the first 'beguines' moved into their home. The Bruges beguinage was one of the first of its kind to exist in 1244 and perhaps several years before that.

Beguines were women who wanted to practice their faith freely, without the strict rules of the medieval church of the time. The first beguines were, as elsewhere, girls of modest origin, who practiced activities in the cloth industry as a livelihood. To treat the sheet , a lot of water was needed, so they settled close to a watercourse. Unlike monastics, the beguines did not wish to take vows of obedience, eternal fidelity and poverty. Nor did they have an approved rule, but they were willing to devote chastity a life to contemplation, prayer, manual labor, care for the sick, and charity. She and the beguines who followed continued the tradition well into the 19th century. More info about the origin of the name 'beguines'.

Today, the cottages are still inhabited by the sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict. Besides the lawn, the Beguinage Church , dedicated to Saint Elisabeth of Hungary, also stands out. Since 1998, the Bruges Beguinage, along with twelve others, has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site . Do you want a unique look back in time? Then visit the beguinage. The museum gives you an exclusive look at life at the Beguinage in the 17th century.

Willem Vandenameele