The beguinage of Diest feels like a quiet world in the city. It was founded in 1253 by Lord Arnold IV and remained inhabited until French rule lifted the beguinage in 1796. Today it is among the thirteen Flemish beguinages recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You walk along cobbled streets past whitewashed houses and convents from the 17th and 18th centuries, under the baroque entrance gate from 1671 and past the 13th-century St. Catherine's Church. Every first Sunday of the month, a book market brings life to this hushed part of Diest.
Practical
Opening hours
Always free to enter.
Groups
Tours and guides can be booked through Visit Diest.
Book market
There is a book market every first Sunday of the month.
Location and accessibility
Parking
Parking nearby
Public transport
Bus stop 'Diest Stadion' 233 metres away. Bus lines: 56, 592, 30, 31, 499, 155, 40, 669, 550, 551, 552, 588, 66, 407, 19, 49, 179.