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The beguines were women who entered into a life dedicated to God without retiring from the world. In the 13th century they first established beguinages, enclosed communities designed to meet their spiritual and material needs.
The beguinages are architectural ensembles composed of houses, churches, ancillary buildings and green spaces. Together the buildings demonstrate characteristics of both urban an rural use of space, and are built in styles specific to the Flemish cultural region.
They bear extraordinary testament to the tradition of the Beguines that developed in northwestern Europe from the middle Ages.
You may visit the beautiful Turnhout Beguinage, and particularly its Beguinage museum, the largest of the Low Countries, as well as the baroque church, daily.
At Brepols we welcome to our office scholars who wish to discuss an editorial project with us or those who are interested in our publications (by prior appointment only).
(Notwithstanding its own interesting history and architecture, regrettably, we are unable to open our building to tourists).
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