Ten Wijngaerde, Medieval beguinage in central Bruges, Belgium.
Ten Wijngaerde is a medieval beguinage in central Bruges, comprising about thirty white-painted houses arranged around a central courtyard. A Gothic church stands at the heart of this quiet enclosed complex, which is now part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.
This complex was founded in 1244 under the protection of Margaret of Constantinople and functioned as an independent community where women lived and worked. Benedictine nuns have occupied it since 1927, continuing the long tradition of female religious life on the site.
The place reflects how beguines lived as independent religious women without taking formal vows, visible in the layout of white houses and the shared church. Daily life here balanced community duties with personal freedom, a way of life quite different from traditional convents.
The grounds are open daily and invite visitors to walk quietly through the courtyard and its surroundings. Parts of the church and some houses can be visited, though the museum section is accessed separately.
Several houses still function as private residences today, which preserves the living character of this site. This makes a visit special because you can sense the ongoing daily life within this centuries-old community.
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