Great Beguinage


The troubled 13th century, with its constant internecine wars, crusades and activities of the Inquisition, left the female population of the occupied country practically without support in the form of a man's shoulder. And what else remained to the weaker sex, except how to unite for the purpose of survival? And so began to appear beginazhi - a kind of commune, in which women lived and worked. The big Beginage in Leuven is perhaps one of the most colorful places in Belgium .

What is interesting for a tourist nigga in Leuven?

You will fall in love with this "city in the city" at first sight. That's so straightforward, without backstory and digressions, you can confidently say - this is an amazing place. Walking along the narrow streets of the Beguinage, imagine yourself a resident of the Middle Ages and it seems that the wheels of the old cart are about to squeak somewhere there, and the bakery on the corner beckons with the delicious smell of freshly baked rolls.

In its structure, a nigga in Leuven is like a small town, with its own streets and small squares. This variation of the development distinguishes it from similar settlements in Amsterdam and Bruges , which are characterized by the location of houses around one central square. In addition, the river Dil flows through the territory of the settlement, dividing into two parts in this area, as if forming an island in some way.

Beginage in Leuven has about 100 buildings, among which there are monuments of architecture. For example, Sveier House stands out as a roof - it is decorated in the form of a tent, which is crowned with a bulbous turret. There is also a temple in the Beguinage. In its architecture, the elements of early Gothic are clearly traced, which are diluted by the features of Romanism. Most of the building looks like a basilica. In the temple there is no tower, and the roof of the building is crowned only by a spire. Such modesty is an expressed feature of mendicant orders during the Middle Ages. However, since 1998, the spire has decorated the carillon, which every 30 minutes performs traditional tunes. In the temple you can see the statues of the twelve apostles, as well as the Virgin Mary and Joseph and the baby, executed in a classical baroque style.

In general, all the houses in the Levene Beguinage are built of red brick. Most of the houses on the first floor have either no windows or very tiny windows - this is the result of attempts to seclude the private life of runaways from the public.

How to get there?

The big Beginage in Leuven occupies the southern part of the city. You can get here by public transport , by bus number 1, 2, to the stop Leuven Sint-Kwintenskerk.