Abbey of Munsterbilzen

According to legend, Saint Landrada founded a church dedicated to Our Lady around 670 here. A women's monastery arose around this church, which was destroyed by the Normans around 880 and remained abandoned until 950-986.

At the beginning of the 11th century, a new abbey church dedicated to Saint Amor was built. The old Our Lady's church was designated as a parish church for the surrounding farmers and the staff of the abbey.

After the FRENCH REVOLUTION, both churches were destroyed and the lands of the abbey were confiscated. Only the Gothic tower of the current church remained standing.

Today, only two buildings remain from the abbey of Munsterbilzen: the former abbey school (Perronstraat 1), now the headquarters of the nature association Orchis, and the former abbess's quarter, now integrated into the buildings of the psychiatric institution (Abdijstraat 2).

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
At the end of the 18th century, the French Republic was born: the king was deposed, and the power of the nobility and the Church was curtailed. During this period, the properties of the Church were confiscated and sold for the benefit of the state treasury. This arrangement also applied in Belgium, which was annexed by France. It was Napoleon who reconciled with the pope again in 1801. From then on, among other things, priests were paid by the state as compensation for the properties that were taken away.

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