Beguinage of Diest
Diest -
Hageland
Beguinage of Diest
Hageland
The Beguinage of Diest was founded in 1253 by Arnold IV, the Lord of Diest. It is one of the 13 Flemish beguinages to appear on the list of Unesco World Heritage Sites. This typical urban beguinage has one of the most beautiful entrance gates built in Rubens baroque style in 1671. One immediately gets a sense of the serenity, harmony and nature of the closed mediaeval communities in the beguinages. Most of the houses date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. The Sint Catharina Church is one of the typical13th and 14th century beguinage churches.