A unique and deeply religious spot in 19th century Ghent

The Old Beguinage Sint-Elisabeth is to be found in the north-western corner of Ghent, in the Rabot neighbourhood. The stone wall around the beguinage has disappeared, but the extraordinary atmosphere remains.

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Beguines were pious, single women who lived a communal life. They took vows of obedience and chastity and were self-supporting. One of the oldest beguinages of Flanders can be found in Ghent: the Sint-Elisabeth beguinage. This 13th century place is really a “town within a town“, with a church, a chapel, a bleaching meadow and more than 100 white houses for the beguines. There are no more beguines in the beguinage, but Sint-Elisabeth is a listed townscape and a symbol of tolerance with its neighbouring three churches of different religion.  Stroll through the streets, admire the works of art in the Sint-Elisabeth church and listen to legends and anecdotes about pious beguines.

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