The Baggaertshof

The Baggaertshof was founded in 1638 by the Baggaert sisters, who set up 12 cottages and a porter’s house for poor widows and unmarried women. Along with a chapel, these cottages stand around a rectangular courtyard. It was the founders and later their heirs who decided who was included. “Rules and ordinances” were established for the inmates. Thus, residents were required to be home early to ring the big bell. In the chapel, Saint Dympna is invoked against madness and epilepsy. An herb garden has been here for centuries. In 1981, a medicinal herb garden was established by the “Werkgroep Kruiden Medici,” an association of pharmacists and doctors from Kortrijk. More than two hundred different herbs have been planted. The Baggaertshof is a protected monument.

The city walking tour “Metamorphosis of the City” passes here.

More info: Baggaertshof

Open: spring and summer 2 to 6 p.m. l fall and winter 2 to 5 p.m. Closed on Mondays, Fridays and holidays.

St. Anthony’s church and Lourdes grotto

Kortrijk experienced a major population boom in the nineteenth century. So there was a need for new parish churches. The Passionist Fathers settled around the Veemarkt and founded a monastery, a school and St. Anthony’s Church (1873). The church became a popular confessional site in Kortrijk. This protected monument is built in neo-Romanesque style.

Brother Isidore was a figure that captured the imagination. He had shaky health when he moved into the neighborhood around the Cattle Market in 1912. He was therefore given the less intensive job of porter in 1913 (after a year of being a cook). He tried to help anyone who came to him during World War I, and so was nicknamed “Brother Good. Brother Isidore died in 1916, but even after his death he continued to inspire people. In 1952, all the streets were full of people when Brother Isidore’s body was transferred to the new tomb in St. Anthony’s Church. In 1984, he was even beatified.

The Lourdes Grotto immediately catches the eye of most visitors. The fake cave in Veldstraat was consecrated by Monsignor Waffelaert on Feb. 11, 1908, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the first apparition of Mary in Lourdes. Consequently, since that day, a visit to St. Anthony’s Church is often concluded with a moment of reflection at the Lourdes Grotto, an oasis of peace in the bustling city.

Basement God’s

In St. Martin’s Church, you can enter the “Cellar of God” in a side chapel. A place where many pilgrims came (and come!) to “serve” against all sorts of calamities and diseases, and pray for support. There are bills with messages, such as “Hope my son returns well from trip,” and people burn a candle there. Until recently, there was more to this: one could be blessed with a dozen relics, receive a blessed cake, and a medal or ribbon to be worn around the sick body part.

As early as 1413 there was talk of this unique place of popular devotion. Under the high altar, a kind of cave was installed, in which the scene of the entombment was depicted. Karel Delbaere of Kortrijk sculpted this in 1894, after the previous sculpture group was destroyed by a fire. Many beguines kept watch here to help, comfort and encourage people. There is an image of Mary because she is “the mother of sorrows. Sister Beguine Augusta was one of the greatest inspirers of the “Cellar of God.

Miracle figurine of O-L-V of Groeninghe

So the story of this miracle statue reads: “The statue of Mary of Groeninghe, Enhanced by many Miracles was found in 1281 in a forest by Pope Martin the IV, and honored to Beatrix Countess of Flanders in 1285 who was then in Roomen and brought the statue to Curterick.

Indeed, legend has it that Countess Beatrice brought this figurine from a pilgrimage from Rome. She would have gotten it from the pope. This is doubtful because other writings about the Countess’ life make no mention of a pilgrimage to Rome. Admittedly, it remains a beautiful fait divers. This beautiful 13th-century Gothic ivory statue is on display in St. Michael’s Church. A small replica is also on display at Kortrijk 1302. Therefore, the connection between the statue and the Battle of the Golden Spurs is not minus. Before the battle, the Flemish troops would have invoked the statue of Mary with child. Their prayers were answered, and the Flemish troops defeated the French cavalry army. Since then, this artful little sculpture has been called a “miracle statue. Admittedly, there is no certainty that the figurine was already in Kortrijk at that time.

Garden Messeyne

You can discover this urban garden via an underpass of the Hotel Messeyne or via the Guido Gezelle path. The garden belonged to a large 19th-century mansion owned by the merchant and manufacturer of linen and lace, Mr. Benoit. He also had a bleachery next to the house. The Hotel Messeyne still overlooks the garden, but anyone can visit it.

The showpieces of the garden are the whimsical pond with a decorative cast-iron bridge. It is a very romantic garden with paths, rolling lawns and different types of trees and shrubs (lime, beech, chestnut, walnut, sweet chestnut, ash, maple, yew, sycamore, rhododendron, hydrangea, tree peony, lilac, birch…). There is also a neo-Gothic gazebo in the garden, which is protected as a monument.

Location: Groeninge Street 17

Medieval cellar

The cellar was discovered in 1955 during the construction of a department store on the corner of Grand Place and Tournai Street. The typical Romanesque cross arches rest on heavy pillars. The late 12th-century cellar was one of the first stone cellars in the city. The presence of the cellar indicates the wealth of the inhabitants of the time. The two built-in columns show that the cellar was originally larger. The cellar was protected in 1983.

Location: corner of Grote Markt and Doorniksestraat

Plees Mill

Preetjes Mill is literally unique: it is the only preserved swinging mill in Europe. At first, the scutching was done with very simple tools, but around 1850 it was mechanized: a pair of scutching boards were mounted on a rotating wheel that was driven by feet. It doesn’t take long for someone to come up with the idea of running these so-called star mills on wind power. Around 1870, there were ten scutching mills in Heule alone.

Preetjes Mill was built in 1866 by Ivo Deprez – hence the name – and served until 1914. A thorough restoration followed in the 1990s and the mill and its surroundings were protected as a village landmark. Today, Preet’s mill is the only one still working in Europe.

Visits:

The mill heritage is much more than the structures alone. The profession of milling and all the knowledge surrounding it are also at least as impressive. He is a true craftsman who has to learn for years to operate his mill to the rhythm of nature, paying attention to the environment and technology. The miller of Preetjes Molen is happy to assist you. You can visit it every third Sunday of the month from April through September.

Address: Hoge Dreef, Heule. The Leiestreek West bicycle network passes by here.
TIP: Start from Texture towards the Leie to bike junction 10 and then choose junctions 63 and 14 and you will pass by this mill.

Open: every third Sunday of the month from April through September from 2 to 5 p.m. | free of charge

More info: Preetjes mill