Begijnhof and Minnewater

A visit to Bruges is not complete without having seen the idyllic Beguine Convent and the romantic Minnewater. In the Beguine convent, there are no longer any Beguines, but Benedictines in 15th century costume still maintain the historic atmosphere. The legendary swans swim on the Minnewater. The people of Brugge look after these noble creatures in fulfilment of the punishment imposed on them by the Maximilian of Austria, after they had beheaded his councillor Pieter Lanchals. Filip Claeys: Recently the Beguine Convent was declared a world monument by the UNESCO. This is one of the most romantique places of Bruges (being one of the most romantique citys of the world)!