Caermersklooster, Museum in België
Caermersklooster is an institute and museum in Ghent built on a monastery dating to the 13th century. The complex includes a church with a single aisle, monks' living quarters, an infirmary with carved wooden supports, and a courtyard that was added later as the community grew.
The monastery was founded by Carmelite monks in the 1270s with the church completed around 1300. It suffered major damage during the 1566 Iconoclastic Fury but was later repaired and eventually converted to a museum by the city of Ghent in the 1800s.
The monastery takes its name from Mount Carmel in Israel, after the Carmelite monks who founded it. This spiritual heritage still shapes how people experience the space today, whether through contemplation or viewing contemporary art.
The monastery is located in the Patershol neighborhood, a lively area filled with restaurants and historic lanes. Visitors can explore the old stone walls freely and view contemporary art exhibitions that rotate throughout the space.
The monastery features a spiral staircase with no central support column, a rare architectural element showing the craftsmanship of medieval builders. This staircase remains a striking example of engineering skill from centuries past.
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