Begijnhof

If you didn't have a map or a handy IYP guide, you could just miss this hidden gem. A visit to Turnhout simply wouldn't be complete without a visit to this 13th century complex. This oasis of tranquillity is hidden behind a majestic entrance, but once you enter the courtyard a different world unfolds before your eyes. Medieval streets and buildings surround a central lawn with a baroque church at its centre and a genuine grotto where Catholics light candles and pray to the saints. The order of nuns after which this beautiful piece of Turnhout is named, is long gone, but the serene feeling is still palpable. This shrine where time stands still was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1994. A convent museum is also available if you're curious about the lives of nuns.