Step into the 1200s with a visit to this former home of holy laywomen, or beguines, who chose a celibate life and who formed their own enclosed communities called beguinages. This area, which is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of 13 such communities in the Flanders region of Belgium. Nowadays, you'll find nuns with the Order of St. Benedict, along with a few unmarried local women, living here. You'll know you've arrived when you see whitewashed houses and serene gardens. A tour of the Beguine's house (now a museum) shows visitors what life would have been like during the 13th century.

Past visitors said the site is very peaceful and that if you visit around noon, you can hear the nuns singing.

The community is accessible daily from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; the house museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It's free to visit the area, but you'll have to pay 2 euros with ticket prices ranging from free to 2 euros (about $2.25) to visit the house museum. For more information, visit the Bruges Tourist Bureau website.