Abbaye de Maredsous, Benedictine monastery in Denée, Belgium.
Maredsous Abbey showcases neo-Gothic architecture with its basilica featuring austere vertical lines, triple lancet windows, and monastic buildings designed by architect Jean-Baptiste Béthune in the 13th-century Cistercian style.
Founded on November 15, 1872, by Beuron Abbey from Germany with financial support from the Desclée family, the abbey was elevated to abbey status by Pope Leo XIII in 1878.
The abbey houses frescoes painted in the Beuron style that blend neo-Romanesque Germanic and Egyptian influences, creating a distinctive artistic contrast with the Gothic austerity of the exterior architecture.
The abbey is open to visitors Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM and weekends from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with guided tours available through the Saint-Joseph reception center.
The abbey produces Maredsous cheese in its cellars and features a Cheesemaking Museum since 2016 that demonstrates the process of transforming milk into aged cheese products.
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