Firstly I can't believe how long it's been since I visited here, as part of my biggest and longest Euro trip back in 2013. Secondly Salve Mater was one of the undisputed classics of Euro derp trips, a very common stop for people exploring around the continent during the 2010s.
Salve Mater Psychiatric Hospital was opened in 1926 by Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, the hospital was set up by the 'Sisters of Love' from Gent, as a women-only institution and run as part of their monastic order. Eventually ownership transferred to a university and was used by them to train mental health nurses alongside treating patients, until 2007 when the last building was shut down. Conversion of the buildings began in 2010, but because they only converted one building at a time it wasn't completed until nearly a decade later in 2016.
I loved it here, it was very chilled and easy to gain access - a literal walk in like almost everything in Belgium was at that time. After the hospital closed, a local artist took up residence in part of the site and whilst he managed to keep most of the undesirables out, he never seemed to have an issue with people photographing the buildings. I distinctly remember, when I went back later that year (and didn't take any photos for some reason), seeing him and a couple of his buddies sat outside one of the buildings playing guitar music, it was pretty surreal.
I think we only managed to see a couple of the large pavilion buildings plus the mortuary before moving on, I'd have loved to cover more ground but what with the massive amount of stuff there was to do in Belgium around that time we didn't want to miss out on other places or opportunities.
Thanks for looking
Salve Mater Psychiatric Hospital was opened in 1926 by Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, the hospital was set up by the 'Sisters of Love' from Gent, as a women-only institution and run as part of their monastic order. Eventually ownership transferred to a university and was used by them to train mental health nurses alongside treating patients, until 2007 when the last building was shut down. Conversion of the buildings began in 2010, but because they only converted one building at a time it wasn't completed until nearly a decade later in 2016.
I loved it here, it was very chilled and easy to gain access - a literal walk in like almost everything in Belgium was at that time. After the hospital closed, a local artist took up residence in part of the site and whilst he managed to keep most of the undesirables out, he never seemed to have an issue with people photographing the buildings. I distinctly remember, when I went back later that year (and didn't take any photos for some reason), seeing him and a couple of his buddies sat outside one of the buildings playing guitar music, it was pretty surreal.
I think we only managed to see a couple of the large pavilion buildings plus the mortuary before moving on, I'd have loved to cover more ground but what with the massive amount of stuff there was to do in Belgium around that time we didn't want to miss out on other places or opportunities.
Thanks for looking
