They lived in unique, walled communities called beguinages —often "mini-cities" with their own gardens, hospitals, and churches. Legacy & Criticism Book Review: The Wisdom of the Beguines - CBE International
The Beguines were laywomen in Northern Europe (12th–14th centuries) who lived religious lives without taking formal vows or entering a cloister. beguine
While most religious orders were rural, Beguines lived in the hearts of growing cities like Bruges and Paris. They lived in unique, walled communities called beguinages