A guild was a cooperative society of salesmen or craftsmen, who all had the same occupation. A guild collected many specialties (e.g. chair makers, carpenters). They had strong rules for competence and collegiallity. They first appeared in the 13th century (when the cities became more and more powerful) and were abolished by the French Revolution.

The guildhall is the building where the administration was housed.

Guilds normally had a saint as patron saint. For carpenters this usually was Saint Joseph (the father of Christ or to be correct (?) the husband of Maria, mother of Christ) who himself was also a carpenter. Sculptors and painters mostly had Saint Luke, smiths had Saint Eloy.