Abbaye de Cambron, Cistercian abbey in Cambron-Casteau, Belgium
Abbaye de Cambron is a Cistercian monastery situated alongside the Blanche River in Cambron-Casteau, Belgium. The property encompasses several historic structures including stone buildings, agricultural facilities, and a working mill that date back several centuries.
The monastery was founded in 1148 when twelve monks from Clairvaux arrived under Saint Bernard's guidance, invited by Anselm of Trazegnies who donated the land. Following the monks' departure in 1789, the buildings served as a noble residence for several decades before finding new purposes.
The abbey monks taught agricultural techniques to local peasants, contributing to the development of farming practices throughout the Hainaut region.
The abbey grounds provide a peaceful setting to explore monastic history and traditional riverside agriculture along the Blanche. Visitors can walk the property and view the historic structures that reveal how the monks lived and worked in this rural location.
The abbey has produced beer for centuries, and this tradition continues today through a partnership that brews abbey beer using water from the surrounding land. This connection between monastic heritage and brewing craftsmanship remains a living link to the monks' past work.
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