Katsberg 13 km

Departure/arrival at the Abbey of Monts de Cats by the junctions 51-40-56-50-24-20-12-97-13-18-19-25-27-33-34-48-58-67-35-54-51-

KATSBERG (Les Monts des Cats) and along the BERTHEN PASS AND FLANDERS ALTITUDE (altitude) 109 METERS

Tip 1: We do not recommend visiting this place on Sundays and/or holidays. After all, on these days there are a lot of people. This leads to longer waiting times in the hostel and abbey shop and sometimes also parking problems. Choose a weekday and this place makes sense!

Tip 2: If you are interested in a local product, you can, in addition to the abbey shop, also visit the small shop right next to the hostel. You are often ordered much faster.

Tip 3: If you are there, be sure to look for the foot of the telecommunications mast particularly high. You will be really impressed by the height of this mast! This TV mast, about 200 meters high, can be seen from the center of Ypres without any problem. It is the navigation point for the entire region.

Katsberg Abbey (Godewaarsvelde, France) https://www.abbaye-montdescats.fr/ 

The silhouette of this very old Franco-Flemish Cistercian abbey of the Trappists is visible from afar. It is located at the top of Katsberg (Mont-des-Cats). They still make abbey cheese there. Cows no longer grow and milk them themselves. Danone van Belle now supplies regional cow's milk. Cheese making is the basic livelihood of the abbey. Since June 2011, they also market a Trappist beer, Mont des Cats. However, this does not get the logo "Authentic Trappist product" because it is not brewed on site but in Chimay. It can be enjoyed in the adjacent inn. There is also a shop for tourists, as well as a church that is open every day. This church is well maintained, simply furnished and equipped with modern stained glass windows. Right in front of the abbey you have a beautiful view of the Flemish hills. Guests can go hiking in the surrounding forest. Near the abbey is also the Passion Chapel.

Every third Sunday in October there is normally a great feast of Saint Hubert. More than 600 horses are blessed. Impressive. More info on https://www.montdescats.net/mont-des-cats/la-st-hubert-2020/ . The 2020 edition was cancelled due to the corona issue. See also the report on Flanders Television.

To conclude: the abbey has a number of guest rooms, especially for people looking for peace and quiet. Did you know that Marshal Ferdinand Foch also sought peace and reflection within the walls of the abbey during the First World War ?

Happy walking Emiel Peeters