CHIJMES, Singapore, Bezoekersgids & wat te doen in de buurt

CHIJMES is a restored convent complex at 30 Victoria Street in Singapore, built around a Gothic Revival chapel and a courtyard. It began as the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus and is now a dining and events destination. The name is pronounced "chimes" and comes from the convent's initials.

The story behind it

The site was a girls' school and convent run by French sisters of the Order of the Holy Infant Jesus, who arrived in Singapore in the 1850s. The sisters also cared for children who had no family. The best known part of this story is the small Gate of Hope, where mothers who could not raise their babies are said to have left them in the care of the nuns.

The convent's chapel was designed by Father Charles Benedict Nain and finished in the early 1900s. The school later moved elsewhere, and the buildings were redeveloped into the dining complex that opened in the 1990s. The historic buildings were protected and kept, so the old convent architecture still frames the restaurants and bars inside.

What to look for

• The Gothic chapel, with its pointed arches and stained glass, is the architectural highlight of the complex.
• The Gate of Hope is a modest gate that is easy to walk past, so slow down and look for the plaque or marker that explains it.
• Caldwell House, one of the older buildings on the grounds, shows how the site was used before the convent expanded.
• The courtyards and arcades inside the walls give a quiet contrast to the busy streets around the complex.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 30 to 45 minutes to wander the courtyards, look at the chapel exterior and read the heritage markers. Add more time if you plan to eat.
• Visit in the late afternoon or early evening, when the stonework is lit and the complex is at its liveliest. Mornings are calmer for photographs.
• Walking through the grounds is generally easy, but check current opening hours and whether the chapel is open or hosting a private event.
• Raffles Hotel, St Andrew's Cathedral and the museums of the Civic District are all a short walk away, so CHIJMES fits well into a wider stroll.

See it on a quest

You can reach CHIJMES on foot as one stop on Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Singapore. It is a murder mystery walk through the city. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so you look closely at the buildings instead of just passing them. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like, with no guide and no set departure time.