Bruges Princely Beguinage

A stone throw from the city centre, the Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaerd is a mystical haven of peace where time feels suspended.

The Beguinage of Bruges in a few words

What’s a “beguinage”?

In North-Western Europe, mainly in Belgium and the Netherlands, a beguinage (known as “begijnhof” in Flemish) is a community of religious women, known as “beguines,” who have agreed to follow monastic rules without taking vows. A Beguinage was therefore an autonomous and secular community, although its members chose to dedicate their lives to religion.

Beguines often worked but also lived thanks to the donations of wealthy benefactors.

The Beguine spiritual movement was founded in the 12th century and airly soon attracted the disapprobation of the religious authorities, who did not accept their independence – most Beguines were widows or unmarried women – and accused them of hypocrisy. In the end, the Church however granted the moment the status of “Third Order”, that is to say a religious community who did not take formal vows.

The Beguine movement stopped existing in 2013, following the death of the last Beguine in Courtray, Belgium.

History of the Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaerde Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaerde Bruges

Bruges’ Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaerde (“Wijngaerde” means “vineyard” in Flemish) was founded in 1225 when a group of Beguines settled by a river, just outside the city. In order to made a living weaving wool for local merchants.

Twenty years later, in 1245, Margaret of Constantinople, countess of Flanders, decided to provide assistance and protection to the Beguines, thus helping their Beguinage become an independent parish.

In the centuries that followed, the Beguinage grew in wealth and number, and was ultimately integrated to the growing city of Bruges. As centuries went by, the Beguines’ social origins evolved: while the doors of the Beguinage were initially open to poorer women, the institution later selected new recruits in the ranks of local aristocracy exclusively.

The French Revolution dealt a fatal blow to the Beguinage. Though it was reopened in the early 19th century, it could never regain its former prestige. The decline of the Bruges’s Princely Beguinage was inevitable and Bruges’s last Beguine died in 1930. Since the 1920s, the Beguinage has been inhabited by a community of Benedictine nuns.

In 2002, Bruges’s Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaerde was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Visiting Bruges’s Princely Beguinage to do

Bruges’s Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaerde is separated from the rest of the city by a large wall and moats, making it feel like small village inside history.

Behind the walls, charming white buildings are smartly arranged around a wooded park carpeted with daffodils.

Visitors can freely explore:

• The church, which dates back to the 17th century
• A beguine’s house dating from the 17th century, converted into a small museum offering an insight into the daily life of beguines

Access

Getting to Bruges’ Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaerde

The Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaerde is located a short walking distance from Bruges’ city centre. It is situated right by the Minnewater, the ‘Lake of Love’. The Beguinage is only a 15-minute walk away from the Markt (the Market Place).

Bruges’ city centre is a pedestrian zone. If you’re not a big fan of walking or simply to try it out, you can also go on a rickshaw tour of the city!

Hours & Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaerde Bruges

The Beguinage is open daily from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm.

Admission is free, but you’ll have to pay 2€ to visit the small museum onsite (1,50€ for visitors over 65, 1€ for children under 12 and students).

👉 Skip the lines: book your tickets and visits in Bruges!

👉 Looking for tips and recommendations? Here are all of Captain Ulysses’ suggestions!

🛏️ Accommodation: If your looking for a hotel in Bruges, Captain Ulysses highly recommends Expedia. And for more tips and recommendations, check out the Captain’s detailed article: Where to stay in Bruges?

🎟️ Activities: aIf you’re looking to book your visits and activities in advance – which you definitely should if you’re visiting Bruges during the high season – Captain Ulysses recommends three websites: Civitatis, Tiqets and GetYourGuide. Guided tours, sport activities … there’s plenty to choose from!

🚐 Transfers: many visitors decide to travel to Bruges from Amsterdam or Brussels. If that’s your case, you can easily book your transfer from Amsterdam here. You can also opt for an all-included day-trip: from Amsterdam or from Brussels (available in 7 languages).

🚌 Local transports: Bruges is rather small and fairly easy to explore on foot. The city center is also pedestrian. But if you’d rather not walk, you can always opt for an electric scooter or a rickshaw!

✈️ Flights: Captain Ulysses warmly recommends Skyscanner to book your flights to Bruges. You’ll be able to compare countless offers to find the best deal. If your dates are flexible, you can also compare prices over several months to find the cheapest flights possible. Bruges is also easily accessible by train and bus. To book your tickets, the Captain highly recommends Omio.