Abbot's Palace Abbey - Saint-Hubert

The abbey was founded in 687 by canons. The choice was made for a favorable location on a plateau of 430 m altitude near a stream called Andange. In 817 the monastic community, which was in decline, passed into the hands of the Benedictines by order of the Bishop of Liège Waltcaudus. On September 30, 825, the body of Saint Hubertus was transferred from Liège to Andage. The place soon developed into a place of pilgrimage and was soon called Saint-Hubert. An agglomeration formed around the abbey with farmers, but also leather workers, shoemakers, innkeepers, merchants and blacksmiths. This core had a maximum of 4,000 residents.

By the end of the ancien régime, the abbey was bankrupt and its assets were mortgaged. The abbey was closed in 1796 by order of the French. The abbey and its estates were sold in 1797.

The Basilica of St. Hubertus and part of the monastic buildings remain of the former abbey. It concerns the abbot's palace and the monastic buildings for the monks, converse and servants.

To the left of the church is the abbot's palace, which was built between 1729 and 1731 in classicist style under Abbot Célestin De Jong. It consists of three wings and the courtyard is closed off with a fence, on which a lunar calendar is displayed. Marble from Saint-Rémy (Rochefort) was used for this luxurious palace. In the central corridor, carved oak gates open out, bearing the arms of the abbots. The monumental staircase of honor was completed in 1732 and is decorated with griffins, which also appear on the coat of arms of Abbot De Jong.

Willem Vandenameele