Eglise Saint-Jean-Baptiste-au-Beguinage (Church of St. John the Baptist), Brussels

Just east of the Quai aux Bois à Brûler, you'll find the Place du Béguinage, a semicircular square dominated by the graceful and undulating structure of Saint John the Baptist, dating from the latter half of the 17th century. This exquisite church stands as the sole surviving structure from the 13th-century Béguine convent originally established here. In the past, the convent tightly enclosed the church, and it wasn't until its demolition and the creation of the star-shaped square in 1855 that the exterior could be appreciated with ease.

The architecture exudes a sense of movement and dynamism in every detail, culminating in three symmetrical gables, with the upper section of the central tower adorned with pinnacles that mirror those on the Town Hall ("Hôtel de Ville"). Inside the church, a bright and airy space welcomes visitors with lavish decor. White stone columns and arches are interspersed with solemn cherubs, serving as a reminder of human mortality, while the wide nave and aisles provide unobstructed views of the grand high altar. A monumental wooden pulpit stands out, featuring Saint Dominic preaching against heresy while symbolically trampling a heretic underfoot.

Tip:
On the rear side of the church, a brief stroll down rue de l'Infirmerie leads to a slender, tree-lined square reminiscent of provincial France. It is framed by the stern Neoclassical architecture of the Hospice Pacheco, constructed in the 1820s to provide for the destitute. Today, it's a tranquil space, but the imposing wall that surrounds the complex serves as a reminder of a time when the hospice resembled a prison more than a refuge, enforcing harsh rules with unforgiving severity.