Belgium: Flemish Beguinages

The Béguines were women who dedicated their lives to God without retiring from the world. In the 13th century they founded thebéguinages , enclosed communities designed to meet their spiritual and material needs. The Flemish béguinages are architectural ensembles composed of houses, churches, ancillary buildings and green spaces, with a layout of either urban or rural origin and built in styles specific to the Flemish cultural region. They are a fascinating reminder of the tradition of the Béguines that developed in north-western Europe in the Middle Ages. source:whc.unesco.org

Inscribed: 1998

Beguinages locations are:

- Antwerp

- Bruges- Received

- Dendermonde

- Diest- Ghent 

- Hasselt

- Hoogstraten

- Lier

- Leuven 

- Mechelen 

- Kortrijk- Received

- Sint-Truiden

- Turnhout

- Tongeren

Postcard 1: Kortrijk

Thanks to Mr Choutal.

Postcard 2: Brugges

Thanks to MS Lotty