The Beguines were women who entered into a life dedicated to God without retiring from the world. In the 13th century they founded the béguinages, enclosed communities designed to meet their spiritual and material needs.
The béguinages are (often walled) compounds where houses, churches, public buildings and gardens make up a secluded town.
In Belgium, the 13 world heritage béguinages consist of the ones in Gent, Leuven, Kortrijk, Mechelen, Brugge, Dendermonde, Turnhout, Sint-Amandsberg, Sint-Truiden, Lier, Diest, Tongeren and Hoogstraten.
The 'Groot Begijnhof' in Leuven is a true heaven of peace and quiet. Behind a modest gate a well preserved neighbourhood lies ahead.
roofs are very very steep around there, would be too much snowy, take cere ;) cool street shot with fine composition with details, congrats bilader.. :)