The Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaerde (Dutch: ''Prinselijk Begijnhof Ten Wijngaerde'') is the only preserved

beguinage A beguinage, from the French term ''béguinage'', is an architectural complex which was created to house beguines: lay religious women who lived in community without taking vows or retiring from the world. Originally the beguine institution was ...

in the

Belgian Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German *Ancient Belgian language, an extinct language ...

city of

Bruges Bruges ( , nl, Brugge ) is the capital and largest City status in Belgium, city of the Provinces of Belgium, province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country, and the sixth-largest city of the countr ...

. There are no more

Beguine The Beguines () and the Beghards () were Christian lay religious orders that were active in Western Europe, particularly in the Low Countries, in the 13th–16th centuries. Their members lived in semi-monastic communities but did not take forma ...

s living there, but since 1927 it has functioned as a convent for

Benedictines , image = Medalla San Benito.PNG , caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal , abbreviation = OSB , formation = , motto = (English: 'Pray and Work') , foun ...

, founded by canon Hoornaert. In the same year the houses at the west side were also reshaped and enlarged into the Monasterium De Wijngaard, a priory of Benedictine nuns.

History

Already before 1240 a community of pious women settled at the domain 'de Wingarde' (old Dutch for ''vineyard''), in the South of the city. This name probably refers to low-lying meadows. The beguinage was founded around 1244 by

Margaret of Constantinople Margaret, often called Margaret of Constantinople (1202 – 10 February 1280), ruled as Countess of Flanders during 1244–1278 and Countess of Hainaut during 1244–1253 and 1257–1280. She was the younger daughter of Baldwin IX, Count of F ...

, after she requested permission to Walter van Marvis, bishop of Tournai, to move over the tomb chapel on the Burg of Bruges to the Wijngaard. In 1245 it was recognised as an independent parish. In 1299 it came under direct authority of king

Philip the Fair Philip IV (April–June 1268 – 29 November 1314), called Philip the Fair (french: Philippe le Bel), was King of France from 1285 to 1314. By virtue of his marriage with Joan I of Navarre, he was also King of Navarre as Philip I from 1 ...

and it was entitled as "Princely Beguinage". The complex includes a gothic beguinage church and about thirty white painted houses dating from the late 16th, 17th and 18th century. Practically all of these are built around a central yard. The main entrance with gate can be reached via the three-arched stone bridge, the Wijngaard Bridge. In a bay the image of the holy

Elizabeth of Hungary Elizabeth of Hungary (german: Heilige Elisabeth von Thüringen, hu, Árpád-házi Szent Erzsébet, sk, Svätá Alžbeta Uhorská; 7 July 1207 – 17 November 1231), also known as Saint Elizabeth of Thuringia, or Saint Elisabeth of Thuringia, ...

can be seen, who was the patron of many beguinages. De Wijngaard is also devoted to

Saint Alexius Saint Alexius of Rome or Alexius of Edessa ( el, Ἀλέξιος, ''Alexios''), also Alexis, was a fourth-century Greek monk who lived in anonymity and is known for his dedication to Christ. There are two versions of his life that are known, a Sy ...

. The entrance gate was built in 1776 by master mason Hendrik Bultynck. The first Beguine house next to the entrance is furnished as a museum and the exhibition includes paintings, 17th and 18th century furniture and lacework, among others. A second gate gives access to the Sas House, via the Sas Bridge. Panorama beginenhof

References

Bibliography

* Hoornaert H. (1921) ''Ce que c'est qu'un beguinage...'', Desclée de Brouwer, Bruges. * Hoornaert R. (1930) ''Le Beguinage de Bruges,son histoire, sa règle, sa vie'', Desclée de Brouwer, Bruges. * Beernaert B. ''et al.'' (1993) ''Begijnhofkerk H. Elisabeth'', in: 17de-eeuwse architectuur in de binnenstad, Open Monumentendag 1993, Bruges. * Van den Abeele A. (1998) ''Tuinen en verborgen hoekjes in Brugge'', Brugge - Luik. * Beernaert B. (2002) ''Begijnhof, tuin van het monasterium'', in: Een tuin is meer dan er staat, Open Monumentendagen Brugge, Bruges. * Dhondt R. (2008) ''Gravin Johanna van Constantinopel en het Brugs Begijnhof'', in: Brugs Ommeland, pp. 228–237. * Dhondt R. (2009) ''Problemen bij het omvormen van het Brugse begijnhof tot een parochie'', in: Brugs Ommeland, pp. 51–59. * Dhondt R. (2011) ''Wie woonde er voor 1300 op het Begijnhof te Brugge?'', in: Brugs Ommeland, pp. 14–29. * Van den Broecke E., Uyttenhove L. (2013) ''Laus Deo. Rodolphe Hoornaert en zijn werk, 1886-1969'', Bruges-Leuven.

External links

Monasterium De Wijngaard

Beguinage De Wijngaard, Bruges
i
ODIS - Online Database for Intermediary Structures
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ten Wijngaerde (Bruges Beguinage) World Heritage Sites in Belgium Buildings and structures in Bruges Beguinages