The Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaerde is the only preserved beguinage in the city of Bruges . There are no more Beguines, but in 1927 the houses on the west side were transformed and expanded into the Monasterium De Wijngaard , for the benefit of a monastic community of Benedictines , founded by Canon Rodolphe Hoornaert .
History
13th century
Even before 1240, a community of pious women settled on the domain 'de Wi(j)ngaard', in the south of the city. This name probably referred to low-lying grassland. The beguinage was founded around 1244 by Countess of Flanders Margaret II of Constantinople . In 1245 it was recognized as an independent parish. In 1299 it came under the direct authority of King Philip the Fair and was given the title of "Princely Beguinage". The subsequent counts of Flanders and dukes of Burgundy maintained this granted privilege, which they considered to have been continued by them. The first Beguines were, as elsewhere, girls of modest origins who practiced activities in the cloth industry for a living. Treating the cloth required a lot of water, so they settled close to a watercourse.
The Bruges beguines received the support of the preachers who settled in Bruges from 1235 and who were active in having the beguinage recognized as a separate parish, which immediately brought the possibility of income.
14th-15th century
From the year 1300, the beguinage was governed by a definitive rule, based on several successive provisional rules. A period of persecution (1311-1318) made things difficult for the Beguines. Many of the 'wild' beguinages were accused of heresies. A bull was issued in 1318 by Pope John XXII who declared that the organized institutes of Orthodox Beguines were not affected by the convictions.
The community subsequently experienced a period of prosperity. She was further supported by the counts of Flanders and by the dukes of Burgundy. The parish church was served by a parish priest and seven chaplains. The Beguines provided care to sick fellow citizens in an infirmary or hospital.
16th century
Like all monasteries, the beguinage had difficulties during the years of the Calvinist republic (1578-1584). They were not forced to flee, like other monastic orders, but they did have to endure the damage to their property. For example, the church was used as a shelter for people fleeing the countryside and all kinds of raw materials (hay, straw, agricultural yields) were also stored there. A fire broke out on January 9, 1584 and the church was extensively destroyed. However, it could be put into use again from 1587 onwards and completely restored during the following decades.
17th century
Supported by the church authorities, including the Archbishop of Mechelen Jan Hauchunis, the Beguines entered a new period of prosperity. In Bruges they focused entirely on the contemplative life. As a result, more and more girls from well-to-do families entered and had their own means of subsistence. The beguinage therefore acquired aristocratic allure. The houses around the courtyard were thoroughly restored or newly built. The community also came into possession of a lot of property.
18th century
The abolition of monasteries decreed by Emperor Joseph II did not affect the Bruges beguines. They even, without opposition from the government, made some of their houses available to women religious who had been expelled from their abolished monastery.
In 1796 after the installation of the French Republic and its legislation, the Beguinage became government property. The Beguines had the choice between complete expropriation and expulsion, or absorption of the property into the 'civil houses of worship' managed by the municipality, while retaining the monastic community as providers of care for the elderly organized in the section . They chose the second option.
19th century
The entire French period, the time of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and the first years of the Kingdom of Belgium were unfavorable. The Beguines were allowed to continue to inhabit the Beguinage, but there was no question, even when Catholics governed both the country and the city, of transferring ownership back to the Beguines. They continued to uphold the spirit of a beguinage with minimal income and a dwindling number of monks.
20th century
In the twentieth century the community had shrunk to a few elderly Beguines. They had as Grand Miss Geneviève de Limon Triest (1874-1971), a member of a noble Ghent family and daughter of esquire Alfred de Limon Triest . Together with the pastor of the Beguinage Church, Canon Rodolphe Hoornaert , and with Dom Gaspar Lefébvre osb, she worked on the creation of a monastic community more adapted to the times, which could once again be attractive to young girls. It became the congregation of Daughters of the Church , of which she herself became the first prioress. Founded in 1927, the congregation had the dual objectives of monastic life and activities that promoted the church liturgy. A number of houses were converted into monasteries, with additional rooms that could be rented out for spiritual retreats and meetings. The numerous houses in the area that became vacant were, after restoration, rented to single ladies.
In 1974, ownership of the entire section, which still belonged to the OCMW , was transferred to the city of Bruges. The main aim of this operation was to provide a more solid basis for the significant restoration works that were planned and that would be carried out in the following decades.
The buildings were appreciated in 1998 by their inclusion, together with other beguinages, on the UNESCO World Heritage List .
21st century
The problems of the aging of the monastic community made themselves felt again and raised questions about the future of the congregation.
View
The complex includes the Beguinage Church and about thirty white-painted houses, most of which date from the late 16th , 17th and 18th centuries . These houses are practically all built around the large central court. The main entrance with gate can be reached via the three-arched stone bridge, the Wijngaardbrug. In a niche you can see the image of Saint Elisabeth of Hungary , patroness of many beguinages and also of the Bruges beguinage. The Vineyard is also dedicated to Saint Alexius .
The entrance gate was built in 1776 by master mason Hendrik Bultynck . This year is stated above the gate. The first Beguine house next to the entrance has been converted into a museum and houses paintings, 17th-century and 18th-century furniture and lacework, among other things. A second gate provides access via the Sas Bridge to the Sashuis.
Beguinage Church
The Beguinage Church is located on the east side of the Beguinage, and is dedicated to Saint Elisabeth of Hungary . The oldest, early Gothic church building on that site dates back to 1245, when Countess Margaretha of Constantinople had the disused viscount's chapel on the Burg transferred to the Begijnhof Ten Wijngaerde, which had recently been founded, at the request of Bishop Walter of Marvis . This transfer must be interpreted quite literally: in addition to the contents (furniture, books, liturgical objects and ornaments), the building materials were apparently also reused to the extent possible.
In January 1584, during the Calvinist government in Bruges, the building - which at that time served as a storage place for grain and straw - was ravaged by fire. It escaped complete destruction, so that it could be put back into use from 1587. Complete restoration took a few decades and was completed in 1604-1609. The interior, which was enriched with works of art in the course of the 17th and 18th centuries, has a sober Baroque character. The 18th century organ was built by Andries-Jacob Berger . In 1990-1991 the church underwent a thorough restoration.
