Villers Abbey

Villers Abbey is an ancient Cistercian monastery complex that was founded in 1146.

It took 150 years to built the whole site (a church with imposing vaulting, arches, rose windows, choir, crypt and further dwelling houses, dormitories, brewery, infirmary, kitchen, refectory, and so on…)
Roughly 100 monks and 300 lay brothers resided within its walls.

During the following centuries, the abbey reached the height of its fame and religious, cultural and economic importance.
The abbey was abandoned by the monks in 1796 in the wake of the French revolution and most of the site has since then fallen into ruins.

The Belgian state purchased the site in 1893 and launched a conservation effort with considerable restoration.
Today, the majestic ruins give a good idea of the life of monks in that time of history.

Location : Villers-la-Ville, Belgium

***

My collage shows an impression of the faded glory with lots of photographical motifs and in the picture below you can see how the complex looked in 1300.

[fc-foto:36195595]