Abbey of Our Lady of Baudeloo, Cistercian monastery in Klein-Sinaai and Ghent, Belgium
Abbey of Our Lady of Baudeloo is a Cistercian monastery near Ghent with late Gothic structures and a neoclassical church portico. The complex includes several buildings with a notable Hemony carillon, which demonstrates traditional bell-casting craftsmanship.
The monastery was founded in 1215 but had to leave for Cologne in 1578 due to religious conflict. The monks returned later and rebuilt their community in Ghent, where it remained an active center of monastic life.
The name refers to a French saint and reflects the spiritual purpose that visitors sense while moving through the buildings. Today the former church functions as a food market, blending sacred architecture with everyday activity in an unexpected way.
The former monastery space now operates as a food market with underfloor heating keeping it comfortable throughout the year. Visitors should check current opening times since the space hosts various activities and uses that change regularly.
A notable musician visited the monastery in 1765 and played the organ there, showing the site's importance as a gathering place for the arts. This musical connection reveals how the monastery mattered to artists and scholars beyond its religious function.
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