the Abbey of Val-Dieu

Founded by the Cistercians in 1216 at the confluence of the Bel and Berwinne rivers, the Abbey of Val-Dieu, as it exists today, is the only abbey in Belgium that survived the French Revolution. The buildings, apart from some Romanesque remnants, mostly date from the 17th and 18th centuries. There are still various elements of a farm (brewery, stables, barn, and mill) as well as the abbey church, which was rebuilt in the 19th century and was elevated to basilica status after World War II. A guided tour allows visitors to discover important sites of monastic life such as the chapter house, the refectory, the scriptorium, and the abbot's quarters. The Cistercians, great specialists in agriculture, managed to maintain the Val-Dieu site with its beautiful park, as an oasis of greenery where one can connect with the spiritual and the cultural as it has developed over nearly 800 years. The magnificent park is free to access every day. €5.00: Guided tour of the abbey by appointment for groups of 15 people minimum. €10: Combined guided tour of the abbey and the brewery for groups of 15 people minimum. Every Saturday in July and August, guided tours of the Abbey for individuals at 1:30 PM. Info: Val-Dieu 227 in 4880 Aubel - Abbey: 087 69 28 28 or www.abbaye-du-val-dieu.be

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