Begijnhofkerk (Beguinage Church)
The church in the picturesque Beguinage is dedicated to St Elizabeth of Thuringia. She is the patron saint of many beguinages, including that of Bruges.
The original early Gothic church dates back to the mid-13th century and was built on the initiative of Margaret of Constantinople. In the 16th century, this house of worship almost completely burned down as a result of a fallen candle. Some baroque interior elements were added during reconstruction in the 17th century.
Inside the church, you will find several art treasures including the wooden Our Lady of Spermalie, the oldest Sedes sapientiae (Mary with baby Jesus) in Bruges, in Romanesque style. Another important image is Our Lady of the Vineyard. It is the only object here that survived both the iconoclasm and fire in the 16th century. The bunch of grapes in Mary's hand refers to the name of the Beguinage "Ten Wijngaarde" (At the Vineyard).
The furniture in the church building is in Louis XVI and Louis XVII style and dates from the 17th and 18th centuries. Above the main altar, St Elizabeth is depicted in a painting by Jacob van Oost, the most important 17th-century painter in Bruges.
The church is still in use today. Click here for more information about services.
