Klein Begijnhof (Small Beguinage), Ghent

Klein Begijnhof (Small Beguinage), Ghent

"Béguinages" used to be architectural complexes built to house beguines: lay religious women who lived in a community without taking vows or retiring from the world. This community of beguines is perhaps the most beautiful of the three in Ghent, and also the best of all the ones in Belgium. It dates back to 1235 and consists of several churches and chapels built in the Baroque style with beautiful facades. The churches were rebuilt in the 17th century. The complex has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Even the exteriors have a couple of frescoes which have been protected with a small ceiling and frontage. One thing that intrigues is that certain windows are actually walls that were painted to make them look like windows.

Why You Should Visit:
Quiet, relaxing, and romantic place in the heart of Ghent that has recently seen a tasteful renovation.
People do live here, so it's not a museum, but it has a very nice atmosphere, away from the busy city.

Tip:
One of the best places for classical concerts thanks to the excellent acoustics and the peace outside.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Ghent. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Klein Begijnhof (Small Beguinage) on Map

Sight Name: Klein Begijnhof (Small Beguinage)
Sight Location: Ghent, Belgium (See walking tours in Ghent)
Sight Type: Religious

Walking Tours in Ghent, Belgium

Create Your Own Walk in Ghent

Create Your Own Walk in Ghent

Creating your own self-guided walk in Ghent is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Ghent's Historical Buildings

Ghent's Historical Buildings

The medieval city of Ghent is full of wonderful old buildings, some dating back as far as the 12th-13th centuries. Medieval buildings are indeed everywhere here, and if you're interested in the heritage fit to capture you imagination, you will find plenty of it in Ghent’s historic downtown.

And you won’t have to look far for the World Heritage worthy of its name either. The Castle of...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Ghent Introduction Walking Tour

Ghent Introduction Walking Tour

Some historians believe "Ghent" comes from the Celtic word, "ganda." "Ganda" meant a confluence, as with two rivers. There are traces of human settlements as far back as the stone age at the confluence of the rivers Scheldt and Leie in Belgium.

With the Frankish invasions at the end of the 4th century AD, the Celtic language was replaced by Old Dutch and this...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles