‘Sacred Books | Secret Libraries' is a leverage project of Tourism Flanders around two inhabited monasteries in Bruges. The professional and sustainable tourist opening of the English Convent and the Priory of the Discalced Carmelites with the reception of visitors starts from the inhabitants and their spirituality, life choice and way of life.

Silence, authenticity and books will be central to the experience during the guided visits starting on 20/02/2020, three a day, four days a week. Guides lead the visitor to unique, hidden and secret places where silence and beauty prevail. In the heart of the monasteries, he becomes acquainted with the religious communities who, in the wake of a long tradition, lead a life of prayer and contemplation. The religious experience of time automatically leads to slowing down and deepening. Books and monastic libraries are a common thread in the course. An encounter with a religious rounds off any visit.

‘Sacred Books | Secret Libraries' is a pioneering project that takes a leading role in the debate on the meaning of religious heritage and on how to deal with religious heritage. ‘Sacred Books | Secret Libraries' assumes the responsibility to revalue and use religious sites in a thoughtful way, with respect for their individuality, their function, their meaning, their value – always in close consultation with the religious and administrators themselves, but also with policy makers, with academics and experts, with entrepreneurs and organizations and with committed and committed supporters.

Ben Weyts, Flemish Minister for Mobility, Public Works, Vlaamse Rand, Tourism and Animal Welfare: “Bruges already has many assets, but the international public is always looking for even more experience. That is why I am committed to ambitious leverage projects that take the tourist experience to an even higher level. Through Tourism Flanders, I am investing 321,000 euros in opening up two beautiful monasteries. This way, visitors from home and abroad can get to know the art treasures of the Engels Convent and the Convent of the Discalced Carmelites.”

Dirk De fauw, mayor of Bruges: “Without a forward-looking vision, there is a real danger that the religious communities can no longer survive and that their rich heritage disappears or becomes fragmented. It is therefore necessary to coordinate all information and expertise on religious heritage and to develop a vision and approach. A knowledge center can realize this under the supervision of the city council.”

'Sacred Books | Secret Libraries' is a leverage project of Tourism Flanders and will open the English Covent and the Convent of the Discalced Carmelites to visitors on 20/02/2020.

Seventy motivated candidate guides accepted the invitation to participate in a training that focused on the specificity of the project: on the one hand the spirituality of the residents, on the other the books and the monastic libraries. The preparation of the guides will continue in the coming period and will also pay attention to accessibility and family-friendliness.

From 20/02/2020, 'Sacred Books | Secret Libraries' makes accessible what has remained hidden and secret until now. The guided visits will take place in both monasteries on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays – each time at 10 am, 2 pm and 3 pm. A visit, led by a guide, lasts one hour and ends in the morning with a meeting with a religious. Reservations are possible from 20/01/2020.