BELGIUM ~ Kortrijk beguinage - UNESCO ~

... Beautiful Unesco site of my own country... a well-preserved medieval part and unique piece of history in the heart of the city... with cobble-stoned alleys, small white houses and a great quiet atmosphere... an oasis of peace... Johan used nice old Belgian franc-denominated stamps ...Heel erg bedankt  Johan!!【ツ】

The Saint Elisabeth Beguinage dates back to the year 1238.The beguinage has been destroyed several times over the course of the centuries. It was given its current shape in the 17th century. It contains around 40 small houses as well as the Saint Matthews chapel (Sint-Mattheuskapel) (1464), the Saint Anna room  with its round stair tower, and the Grand Mistress's house, which has been converted into a museum.  In the Saint Anna room visitors find out exactly what a beguinage was through authentic heritage and modern media techniques.

The very last beguine in the world, Marcella Pattyn, resided at the Kortrijk beguinage from 1960 to 2005. She passed away in her sleep on 14 April 2013. She was 93 years old.

Kortrijk beguinage was listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1998.

Stamps:

Eurostamps
(Issued 14-09-1963)

Christmas and New Year Stamp
(Issued 18-11-2000)

Charity Stamp
Issued 15-05-1999)