Ter Doest Abbey, Benedictine abbey in Lissewege, Belgium
Ter Doest Abbey is a medieval monastery in Lissewege near Bruges that now operates as a museum. The most striking building is an enormous stone barn where monks once stored grain and farm products from their extensive lands.
The monastery was founded in 1175 and eventually became a Cistercian house under the influence of Ten Duinen Abbey. This connection shaped its growth and influence throughout medieval Flanders for several centuries.
The monks shaped the landscape by draining marshes and developing farmland across the coastal regions they inhabited. Their wool production became an important economic activity that connected this monastery to trade networks throughout medieval Flanders.
The site is located outside Bruges in a flat rural area best reached by bicycle or car. Wear comfortable shoes as you will walk between several buildings and outdoor spaces to see the full complex.
A bishop named Thorfinn from Norway found refuge here in 1285 after being forced out of his homeland. He spent his remaining years in the monastery, creating an unusual link between Scandinavia and this Flemish abbey.
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