The Beguinage of Bruges

The beguinage of Bruges, a timeless haven of peace

The beguinage of Bruges is one of those places where you have the impression that time has stopped. Separated from the bustle of the city, it invites serenity and contemplation. The Bruges audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this peaceful place, heir to a community of women several centuries old.

A community of women from the thirteenth century

The beguinage of Bruges, called the enclosure of the Vine or De Wijngaard in Dutch, was created in the thirteenth century. It housed a community of beguines, pious women living together without taking definitive vows. With its white-painted façades and its peaceful garden, the princely beguinage Ten Wijngaerde has kept its atmosphere of serenity and is among the most soothing places of the city.

What to see

Here you discover the white houses lined up around a large wooded garden, in a silence conducive to meditation. The beguinage offers a striking contrast with the tourist bustle of Bruges. It is a soothing stop, to be walked with respect, which reveals a spiritual and timeless facet of the city, near the Minnewater park.

Practical information

The beguinage of Bruges lies to the south of the old town, near the Minnewater park, reachable on foot. It is a peaceful and inhabited place, whose courtyard and garden can generally be visited with respect for the silence and tranquillity of the place; access hours may vary. It is best to behave with discretion there.

What is the beguinage of Bruges?

It is an ensemble of white houses around a garden, created in the thirteenth century for a community of beguines, pious women living together.

Can the beguinage of Bruges be visited?

The courtyard and the garden can generally be visited with respect for the silence and tranquillity of the place, which remains inhabited; access hours may vary.