Dedicated to St John the Baptist, this large church derives its name from Grand Beguinage, a religious community of widows and unmarried women who lived in nearby houses and for whom it was originally built in 1676. Belgium’s oldest beguinage, established in 1250, it was also its largest, with as many as 1200 nuns in the 17th Century. The convent was, however, closed in the 19th Century and today the church is all that remains.

The greatest attraction of the Beguinage Church of St John the Baptist is its amazingly elaborate facade, widely regarded as being one of the most beautiful in the country. It is spread over three gables of varying heights and flanked by an octagonal tower. The church has a simple Latin cross design, typical of Gothic architecture, while the onion-shaped steeples are characteristic of Flemish Baroque style popular in the 17th Century. As you make your way through the door, notice the decorative details on the metal door pans.

Although the lavish facade is in noticeable contrast to the church’s initial role as the focal point of a beguinage group of women, the inside of the shrine, with its great perspectives, nevertheless evokes the feeling of calmness and peace. It is nearly as impressive as the façade itself, capacious and filled with light. Some Gothic elements have been preserved in this predominantly Baroque interior, such as soaring vaults. Highlights include an impressive 18th-century pulpit (once used by St Dominique) and numerous paintings, seven of which are by the Brussels-based painter Theodoor Van Loon of the 17th Century. Visitors can also admire a splendid ceiling, columns and an ornate Baroque nave, embellished with delicate winged cherubs, angels and scrolls. Not the typical small wooden chambers, the confessionals are beautifully adorned as well with wood carvings of the Virgin Mary with Baby Jesus, allegorical figures, saints and angels on top. Moreover, there are some 90 tombstones of priests and beguines covering the floor.