Page "Dominican Order" Paragraph 86

In places besides Germany, convents were founded as retreats from the world for women of the upper classes.

These were original projects funded by wealthy patrons, including other women.

Among these was Countess Margaret of Flanders who established the monastery of Lille, while Val-Duchesse at Oudergern near Brussels was built with the wealth of Adelaide of Burgundy, Duchess of Brabant ( 1262 ).