Carmelite Monastery

Foundation in 1667 of a monastery for twelve to fifteen Lady brothers or shod Carmelites by Bertolf de Paix and his sister Josine, to promote the Saint Anne devotion in Bottelare. To this end, they donated a homestead on the Dries in Bottelare with their own stone house, tenant court, barn, orchard and court, and associated land that also extended to the adjacent Munte and Scheldewindeke. This Carmelite vicariate was dedicated to Saint Anne and, according to the foundation deed and the concordat of 1671 with the diocese of Mechelen, was to assist in the services of the parish church. Initially, three fathers moved into a small house and a temporary wooden chapel to the east of Mr. de Paix's house and stables. After the death of the founder in 1683, a new monastery was built, a new chapel was erected and the former house of Mr. de Paix was enlarged. The monastery buildings were surrounded by water, but no other details are known. In 1763 the construction of the monastery buildings that were preserved is underway. This new monastery included a chapel with sacristy and upper oratory, a pawnshop with building, a refectory and kitchen, guest and consultation rooms, upstairs cells for the fathers and a library. This layout can still be read roughly in the current buildings. Abolition and public sale of the monastery in 1797. The Carmelites finally left their monastery at Bottelare. The Haesebyt family bought it as a country residence. Due to the marriage of his father with a daughter Haesebyt at the end of the 19th century in the possession of the Ghent resident Ferdinand Scribe who slightly adapted the former monastery.

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