Abdij Keizersberg | Keizersberg Abbey
Abdij van Vlierbeek | Vlierbeek Abbey
Abdij Abdij van Vlierbeek
Sint-Geertruiabdij
Abdijlaan, 3010 Leuven
Halfmaartstraat, 3000 Leuven
In 1125 Godfrey I the Bearded, Duke of Brabant, donated a piece of land to the Benedictines of Affligem. They founded a priory, which quickly developed into an abbey. In 1572, during the wars of religion, the monastery was devastated. The monks were compelled to withdraw to their refuge within the walls Leuven. It was only in 1642 that they returned to the abbey and gradually rebuilt the ravaged parts. In 1796 the monks were again driven out of their monastery - this time by the French. When Vlierbeek became an independent parish in 1829, private individuals moved into the adapted abbey buildings, which were the property of the church fabric committee. The former guest quarters were converted to three dwellings and were restored in 2006. The abbey church - a monumental, particularly homogeneous sandstone building in classical style - was restored inside and out in 2001 and now serves as Vlierbeek’s parish church.
This abbey is the heart of the Small Beguinage. The buildings, erected between the 14th and 17th centuries have already been restored and re appointed as a residential complex. In 1912 Professor Canon A. Thiery was able to buy the abbey and modernise it. He also had the Thiery Wing constructed from fragments of the f acades of Leuven town houses destroyed during WW I. The abbey itself was seriously damaged in 1944, when the remaining two gothic wings of a monastic building were destroyed. The walled, green oasis with its valuable trees is of interest.
Vlierbeek Abbey
Abdij van Park | Park Abbey
St Gertrude’s Abbey
Tip Historic walk in the abbey grounds with audio-guide Some 30 recordings provide the visitor with captivating details of the origin, history and use of the site via a headset. Testimony of a former abbey porter, a guest master and a gardener provide colour and variety.
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