Our-Lady Ter Hooyen, UNESCO World Heritage béguinage in Ghent, Belgium
Our-Lady Ter Hooyen is a beguinage in Ghent with white-walled buildings and green gates enclosing a central courtyard planted with lime and beech trees. The site contains around 100 residences and seven religious buildings accessible through a neoclassical gate built in 1819.
The site was founded in 1234 by Countesses Johanna and Margaretha of Flanders as a home for women from noble and middle-class families. A baroque church built between 1654 and 1658 became the spiritual center of the community.
Residents here honored Our Lady of Seven Sorrows through seven stations placed throughout the grounds. This female religious community created a space where women could live according to their beliefs while maintaining more freedom than in formal convents.
The site is best visited during daytime to properly see the architecture and peaceful courtyards throughout the grounds. A walk through the winding pathways reveals how different house types and the layout were designed to support daily religious life.
Each residence has its own gated front yard enclosed by high walls with small openings, providing privacy while maintaining community presence. This distinctive design reflects how residents balanced solitude with shared space.
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