Spaniënhof - Lissewege

The Spaniënhof (also spelled “Spaegnen”), built around 1567, served as an inn and refuge for pilgrims on their way to Compostella in the 17th century .

The name “Spaegnen” refers to Magdalena Fernandez , a Spanish innkeeper who lived there in the 17th century and was the model for Mary in the painting The Visitation in the church.

From the 13th century onward, pilgrims stayed there on their way to Santiago de Compostela. Along with the nearby St. James's House, it offered accommodation, meals, and guidance to pilgrims.

In 1914–18, the building was caught in the squalor of World War I; it was used by German officers as the Marinekorps Flandern headquarters and mess hall. Murals and decorative paintings were reportedly painted inside the building by German soldiers. After the war, these were covered with wallpaper or disappeared during renovations. Children from Lissewege recalled stealing bread and coal from the Germans during World War I, especially from the supply carts near the Spaniënhof. They hid behind the Spaans erf (Spanish yard) or the church wall.

The building has retained its white Flemish polder style , with original limestone facades and a classic bay window. After decades of vacancy, it was completely renovated in 2009. Today, it houses a luxury B&B with six rooms, a garden and terrace, and preserved authentic building details.

Willem Vandenameele