Abbey of Stavelot: the ruins of the church

The beautiful abbey church of Stavelot was demolished during the French Revolution, and only its entrance gate from 1534, built by Prince-Abbot Willem van Manderscheidt, remains. Massive and imposing, we still see the first two levels, 20 m high. For a long time, the tower served as a storage room for the tanners. The large ribbed vault gives us an idea of the proportions of the nave. Inside this gate, which was actually the entrance to the church, we discover the fine star vault from 1555. With its height of 90 meters, the tower was the tallest between the Meuse and the Rhine. A stained glass window by the artist André Blanck was installed in the tower during the restoration. The church from the 11th century enclosed both the monastery garden and the honor courtyard.

Excavations began in 1896 at the site of the transept and the choir. During that period, the sarcophagus of Abbot Poppon was discovered, now preserved in the Saint-Laurent chapel.

In 1921, the park was laid out, and people became more aware of these romantically appealing ruins. Real excavations, carried out by professional archaeologists, began in 1977 and allowed the south wall of the transept to be cleared. The following year, the monastery was brought to the surface, along with part of the cross side of the transept. The work continued in successive periods until 2007. The results of the research are now permanently visible, and the outlines of the church and the placement of the pillars are easily recognizable. Among the stones are several artworks in corten steel by the Belgian, but internationally known artist Serge Gangolf.

Jan Rymenams