Maredsous Abbey

The Abbey of Maredsous is a monastery Benedictine located in Maredsous, in the municipality of Anhée, in the province of Namur (Belgium). It was founded as a priory on November 15 1872 by the Abbey of Beuron, with financial support from the Desclée family, who donated the land and financed the plans and construction of the buildings designed by architect Jean-Baptiste Bethune.

In 1878, the priory of Maredsous was elevated to the rank of abbey by Pope Leo XIII and then became part of the Congregation of Beuron. The abbey was then affiliated with the Congregation of the Annunciation within the Benedictine Confederation from 1920. It was through a papal brief from Pius XI dated October 12 1926 that the abbey church was granted the title of minor basilica.

While some Maredsous cheeses are actually aged in the cheesemaking facility of the monastery itself, the beer called “Maredsous beer” is not brewed at the monastery; the abbey has entrusted its production and marketing to the brewery Duvel Moortgat located in the Flemish Region.

In 2022, the abbey celebrated its 150th anniversary.

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Dirk P