As a community for unmarried, semi-religious women (see Beguine), the Beguinage of Leuven originated in the early 13th century. The oldest written documents date back from 1232. A Latin inscription on the church … See more

After more than 150 years in use by the local welfare commission and being inhabited by people not financially able to maintain the dwellings, the place was in deplorable state in 1960. The welfare commissio… See more

The Great Beguinage has the appearance of a small town on its own, with houses planned along a network of narrow streets and small squares. This is in contrast to the beguinages of Bruges and Amsterdam, where all h… See more