Béguinage

A Begijnhof ( ndl: begijnhof, fr. Béguinage ) is the typical residence of the Beguines, which occurs mainly in Belgian Flanders and the Netherlands.

Description

A Beguine convent is located in a city and usually consists of a clustered around a courtyard architectural ensemble consisting of small houses of the Beguines, a chapel, outbuildings and often a bigger house for the Begin Champion and a meeting room. Often, the courtyard is designed as an idyllic vegetable and flower garden or park. The system is clearly separated by walls or moats of the rest of the city. In the gables of the houses are often located Begin religious sayings, saints or images of Mary or the name of the patron saints of the residents.

Since there are now no more Beguines (except in Bruges), the courtyards are occupied by older people, artists and students. The small houses have been restored and renovated to a rule. The Begijnhof in Bruges today serves a community of Benedictine convent.

Most beguinages are located in Belgium and are picturesque and worth seeing because of their age, and the rest of the simple harmonic architecture. It's a 30 by 80 former plants have survived. In the Netherlands, two facilities in Amsterdam and Breda are still preserved. The resultant from 1346 Begijnhof in Amsterdam includes 47 clustered around a courtyard houses, which mostly date from the 18th century. It is a reconstruction after a fire, the only one house of 1470 survived, one of the oldest wooden buildings in the Netherlands. Until 1971, the Begijnhof in Amsterdam was inhabited by the Beguines. In France, there are no more farms. In Germany, the Begijnhof in food is known.

On April 14, 2013 passed away with the Belgian Marcella Pattyn in the West Kortrijk, Belgium, the last beguine, thus ending a 800 year old tradition of pious women who have lived in Europe between the worlds of religious life and laity.

UNESCO World Heritage

Of 26 surviving Flemish beguinages, UNESCO included the plants in the following cities in their list of " World Heritage ":

• Bruges
• Dendermonde
• Diest
• Gent Sint -Amandsberg, Small Beginenhof ter Hoye
• Hoogstraten
• Kortrijk

• Lier
• Mechelen
• Sint- Truiden
• Tongeren
• Turnhout