Kortrijk

Photographer's Note

Kortrijk - Inside the Beguinage - 6

In my search for more information about beguinages, I also learned something that I didnt know before.
Im convinced that relatively few people in Belgium know this. There existed also a male counterpart for the beguines in the 13th and 14th centuries. A man who lives in such a community is called a beghard.

The beghards, like the beguines, were part of the semi-religious communities that arose within the Roman Catholic Church from the 12th century. Unlike a member of a monastic order of strict observance, they took no perpetual vows, but only temporary, usually annual vows. Nor did the communities follow any monastic rule recognized by the church. They confined themselves to the vows of chastity and obedience, not those of poverty.
Unlike the beguines, they didnt live independently in separate houses united in beguinages, but in communities. They remained communities of lay brothers and they werent ordained as priests.

The first beghard community on which documents exist (therefore not necessarily the oldest) was that of Douai (Northern France) in 1246.
In Belgium, beghard communities were found in Antwerp (1297), Bruges, Diest (1268), Tournai (Doornik) (1297), Ghent (1289), Ypres (Ieper) (1297), Leuven, Ličge, Nivelles (Nijvel) ( 1272), Sint-Truiden (1270), Tienen and Zepperen.

The beghards were mainly manual labourers, especially weavers.

Information from Wikipedia.

I also found that the beghard communities were eventually proscribed as heretical by the medieval church and in the 14th century all but extinct.

These are my last pictures of the Kortrijk Beguinage. The very last ones can be found in the WS here.
But I also took other pictures in Kortrijk :) However, the beguinage has provided me with many interesting views.

pierrefonds, COSTANTINO, holmertz, Fis2, jemaflor, ikeharel, Royaldevon, jhm, jean113, ChrisJ, mcmtanyel, PiotrF, ricardomattos, adramad oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

lousat (138585) 2021-09-24 11:53

Hi Paul,in fact the photo in full sun in the WS could be better, but you were right not to replicate John's and show something else, also because many do not watch the WS .. hahahah .... and in any case the main one has a lot of charm, rich and detailed with great 3D effect. However, this not very large place has many interesting perspectives! Have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano

pierrefonds (113552) 2021-09-24 13:13

Bonsoir Paul,

La porte bleue attire le regard. La prise de vue permet de voir les détails des maisons. La lumičre met en valeur la beauté des couleurs. Bonne soirée.

Pierre

COSTANTINO (115499) 2021-09-24 13:16

Hello dear friend and have a nice day
no comments from me
sometimes one shot is
one thousand words...
the big green tree adds beauty
to the whole scenery
regards
Costantino

holmertz (101956) 2021-09-24 13:31

Hello Paul,
One more set of three well taken photos from this area which seems so strange for a Scandinavian atheist like me. The buildings are really pretty and it's amazing to see streets with no cigarette buts or empty beer cans. The note is very interesting. What a pity those beghard communities have not been preserved. It would have been interesting to compare the tidiness. ;-)
As for the note to WS #2 there would be a lot fewer pictures on TE if nobody would post a photo similar to what someone else showed of the Westminster Abbey, Giza pyramids or the Taj Mahal several years ago.
Best regards,
Gert

Fis2 (169679) 2021-09-24 14:19

Witaj Paul!
Interesting set of photos.
Amazing alley, view makes impression.
Interesting houses, pavement and walls.
Good frames, colors and light.
Well done.
Have a nice weekend.
Krzysztof

Silvio1953 (220553) 2021-09-24 21:50

Ciao Paul, great perspectibve on lovely place, excellent clarity, splendid light and wonderful colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

ifege (46891) 2021-09-24 22:49

Hi Paul
Another good three interesting photos from the Beguinage. They all show good detail of the community.
cheers
Ian

jemaflor (146258) 2021-09-24 23:25

Salut Paul,
Intéressante vue avec cette architecture bien mise en valeur, bel effet avec ces lignes fuyantes qui donne une bonne impression de profondeur ŕ l'image, parfaite netteté, la capture de la lumičre entre ombre et soleil est bien réalisée, bonne photo, tfs.

ikeharel (112397) 2021-09-25 2:45

Excellent outcome with the shadows cast on the main photo, with depth and superior clarity, Paul.
Tough decision to upload, the WS picture is no less attractive.
Wish you a nice weekend,
Ike

dkmurphys (79209) 2021-09-25 5:43

Hello,
This image with white painted brick walls reminds me of Bruges. A lot of interesting and beautiful places in your country. Well captured scene.

D

Royaldevon (85606) 2021-09-25 6:36

Hello Paul,

You have shared some excellent photographs with us and added good, informative notes.
This main shot made me think about the importance of viewpoint and composition for you completely control the guidance of the viewers.
I am surprised that you decided not to use the w/s photograph as your main one, for it is more appealing. I checked the photograph that John had submitted and it was quite different from yours, though showing the church as a b/g feature.
Anyway, like most of your contributions, the three photographs have been high quality, so we still get to see them all!

Have a good w/e,
Bev :-)

jhm (211734) 2021-09-25 10:40

Goedenavond Paul,

Zo ken ik het Begijnhof in Kortrijk.
Dit type foto's zijn altijd welkom.
Mooi panoramische diepte en prachtig perspectief.
Heel mooi gedaan, zeker een goede in jou serie.
Bedankt voor te delen.

Prettige zaterdagavond,
John

jean113 (27633) 2021-09-25 12:11

Hello Paul, this looks a fascinating place to wander around in, with plenty of photo opportunities, as you have shared.
Your notes are very interesting and informative. I knew nothing about this way of life before viewing your shots.
The Beguinage is in beautiful condition, who is responsible for its' upkeep please?
Kind regards, Jean.

mkamionka (73316) 2021-09-25 14:22

Hi Paul,
great continuation of the series on this unique subject. Yes indeed I started to wonder what happened to the men. I started to speculate that maybe that was happening after the war when there were no men around but I see what you wrote that it was a wider phenomenon.
Nice geometry, very well spotted,
M

ChrisJ (171194) 2021-09-25 19:52

Hello Paul,

The path at left adds superb linear perspective towards the bg blue door. Good sharpness and the lighting has revealed excellent textural details in the walls and flagstones. Tfs!

mcmtanyel (67611) 2021-09-25 20:21

Hello Paul,
I like the pristine white-wash on the bricks and the leading lines to the door in the distance.
Regards,
MT

Tue (91536) 2021-09-26 12:36

Hallo Paul,
Ik reed vandaag wel langs Kortijk, maar had geen gelegenheid te stoppen. Hopelijk lukt me dat een andere keer wel. Een mooi gezicht op dit smalle steegje met ronde deuren aan beide zijden. De witte muren en oranje daken zijn hier ook weer heel mooi, zeker met dit aangename zijlicht.
Lars

PiotrF (54246) 2021-09-27 15:51

Hello Paul,
Very ice corner of this city, wonerful architecture.
THank you for interesting note.
All photos with good quality , fine details, good composition and beautiful colours.
Fine presentation.
Regards
Piotr

ricardomattos (17396) 2021-09-28 15:41

Hi Paul,

Very interesting place . Beautiful and well preserved. Lovely series with nice pictures.

Regards

Ricardo

adramad (72536) 2021-10-05 11:10

Hello Paul.
Great charm and magnificent perspective of this small street, with the doors to the different houses of the Beguinage, everything looks so clean and well cared for that it is a pleasure to see these images, I really like the photo of the WS with the houses and the cathedral at the bottom.
Sharpness, lighting, color, and magnificent composition; they are managed to perfection, in this beautiful image.
I like very much.
You have a good day. Very best regards.
Luis.