Discover a secret courtyard in the heart of Bruges

Behind Bruges’ postcard streets, St Godelieve’s Abbey has watched the city for more than 400 years. For centuries, it was a quiet, self-contained world. Then, in 2013, the last Benedictine sisters left. A beautiful place fell silent, and a new question appeared: how can a historic abbey stay meaningful when its original life ends? 

In 2021, a different kind of revival began. Instead of making all the decisions from the top, the site asked people to help shape it. Visitors were invited to co-create the future. They proposed 4,784 ideas and scenarios; the kind of practical, imaginative input only real users bring. Those ideas were analysed and explored further with a panel of experts, turning public wishes into a clear, workable plan. 

The new concept keeps the abbey’s spirit but opens its doors to everyday life. It includes spaces for food and craft (a cooking studio and demonstration kitchen), culture (a creative open space), and calm green corners (an orchard and community garden). It also brings back an old abbey tradition in a modern way: a microbrewery and a shop for local, short-supply products. Workspaces and artist housing add life beyond visiting hours. 

And tourism is part of what makes it last. The renewed abbey relies on people visiting, attending tastings and events, and spending on site. This helps cover the costs of upkeep and programming, ensuring the abbey remains open, cared for, and accessible to Bruges and to those discovering it.