Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Beguines

Helmstedt developed near the monastery of St. Ludgeri, which was probably founded around 800 by St. Liudger. For centuries there was a connection to the Werden Abbey, also founded by St. Luidger. Helmstedt was first mentioned as Helmonstede in 952. Until 1490, the abbots of the Werden-monastery were still the lords of Helmstedt, who then ceded their rights to the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg. In the course of the throne dispute between the Guelphs and the Staufers, the city was almost completely destroyed at the turn of the year 1199/1200 by troops of the Magdeburg Archbishop and Philip of Swabia. After reconstruction, the city's fortifications were strengthened to withstand a siege in 1279. After years of war, the abbot of Werden, who acted as a mediator between the warring parties, was killed by enraged citizens in 1288. As a result, the city and its citizens were subjected to imperial ban, which was not lifted until 1290 by King Rudolf I. Helmstedt developed into a trading town at an early stage. Between 1426 and 1518, it was a member of the Hanseatic League. - In the Middle Ages the Beguines lived here. Now it belongs to the parish.

Bruges already had its city charter in 1128 and was a very important member of the Hanseatic League. It was the prospering center of the Flemish cloth industry. Between 1200 and 1500 Bruges had a kind of "Golden Era". Bruges was a leading European business community. In 1244 the béguinage 'de Wingarde' (= vineyard), was founded just south of the city by Margaret of Constantinople (aka "Margret the Black"), Countess of Flanders and daughter of Balduin I, the first emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople. Beguines lived in semi-monastic communities but did not take religious vows. They promised not to marry "as long as they lived as Beguines" but were free to leave at any time. They were part of a spiritual movement of the 13th century that stressed imitation of Christ's life through voluntary poverty, care of the poor and sick, and religious devotion. The béguinage includes a gothic church and about thirty small brick houses dating from the 16th, 17th and 18th century. Practically all of these are built around a central yard. No Beguines live here any more, but since 1927 a priory of Benedictine nuns revitalizes the monastic life. In 1998 this site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list together with 12 other Flemish béguinages.