---
title: "The Begijnhof: Bruges' Quietest Corner | Chocolate Suites"
url: https://www.chocolatesuites.be/en/journal/begijnhof-garden
description: "Right in the centre of town, there's a walled garden that feels like stepping into another century."
lang: en
---

Back to Journal (https://www.chocolatesuites.be/en/journal)

Hidden Gems · 3 min · March 25, 2026

# The Begijnhof: Bruges' Quietest Corner

Right in the centre of town, there's a walled garden that feels like stepping into another century.

Image: The Begijnhof: Bruges' Quietest Corner (https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1679253196432-4735549ec681?w=800&q=80)

The Princely Begijnhof ten Wijngaarde was founded in 1245. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site. And somehow, despite being in every guidebook, it's still one of the most peaceful places in Bruges.

You enter through a low stone gate near Minnewater Lake. Inside: a courtyard of white-painted houses around a green, with tall trees and total silence. Benedictine nuns live here now. They ask visitors to keep quiet, and people actually do.

In spring, the courtyard fills with daffodils. It's one of those scenes that looks photoshopped but isn't. Go early morning or late afternoon for the best light and the fewest people.

The small church inside is worth a look. It's modest — wooden pews, whitewashed walls, a few candles. But after the sensory overload of the Markt and the shopping streets, the simplicity is a relief.

There's no entry fee. It opens at 6:30am. If you're an early riser, you'll have the place to yourself.

## Where to stay

Dark Chocolate Room: https://www.chocolatesuites.be/en/rooms/chocolate-suite-1
Candy Family Suite: https://www.chocolatesuites.be/en/rooms/chocolate-suite-2
Sweet Chocolate Room: https://www.chocolatesuites.be/en/rooms/chocolate-suite-4
Giant Donut Family Room: https://www.chocolatesuites.be/en/rooms/chocolate-suite-9

See the 10 suites (https://www.chocolatesuites.be/en/rooms)

## More from the Journal

- Bruges Chocolate: Skip the Chains, Find the Good Stuff (https://www.chocolatesuites.be/en/journal/chocolate-shops) 3 min
- Why Bruges Is Better on Two Wheels (https://www.chocolatesuites.be/en/journal/bruges-by-bike) 4 min
- A No-Nonsense Guide to Belgian Beer in Bruges (https://www.chocolatesuites.be/en/journal/belgian-beer-guide) 4 min

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