Beguinage Church

The 17th-century Beguinage church has a beautiful Baroque façade, based on an Italian model.

Because the Mechelen beguines were quite wealthy at that time, they could hire well-known architects, painters and sculptors. The building plans were signed by the Jesuit Pieter Huyssens, but it was Brussels resident Jacques Francart, court architect of the archduke and archduchess Albrecht and Isabella, who made them a reality. The interior decoration was provided by the young Mechelen resident Lucas Faydherbe.

The 17th-century design has largely been preserved and forms a homogeneous whole. The church has an important collection of Baroque paintings (such as the crucifixion triptych by Jan Cossiers, paintings by Theodoor Van Loon, Theodoor Boeyermans, Gaspar de Craeyer and others), as well as renowned sculptures and wood carvings (by Fayd’herbe, Van den Steen, Boeckstuyns and others).

The colourful interior upholstery and stained glass windows date back to the 19th century.

Opening hours

Price

Free

Comfort

Access

Partly accessible by wheelchair  

The access path and the path around the church is made of cobblestones and is uneven.
The entrance to the church is without thresholds and is done through three sufficiently wide double doors. The first doors are open when the church is open for visitors. The second entrance axis has limited circulation space. There is sufficient circulation space in the church and the sights can be clearly seen from the aisle. The chairs are set up on a platform of 10 cm high.

Contact

T +32 15 29 40 32
E info@torensaandedijle.be
W torensaandedijle.mechelen.be/nl/begijnhofkerk

Location