The Grand Béguinage

Step through the Great Gate and discover a remarkable corner of Leuven where the past can still be felt. Around the church, an atmospheric network of lanes, houses and convents unfolds, together forming an almost separate little town within Leuven’s city centre. On this walk, you will discover the church, the historic infirmary, the impressive Convent of Chièvres and the House of Saint Nicholas, among other highlights. Every building and every lane tells its own story of the béguines’ lives and the centuries-long history of this unique place. Yet the Grand Béguinage is no museum. Today, it is home to students, visiting international professors and staff of Leuven University. Here, a centuries-old place goes hand in hand with the vibrant, international Leuven of today. 

Main stops: Great Gate, St John the Baptist Béguinage Church, Infirmary, small béguinage lanes, Convent of Chièvres, House of Saint Nicholas