Clairefontaine Abbey, Medieval religious complex in Arlon, Belgium
Clairefontaine Abbey is a medieval monastic complex near Arlon at the Luxembourg border, featuring stone ruins, a medicinal herb garden, chapel, and underground burial chamber. The site lies about 4 kilometers from the town center and remains partly excavated and partly buried beneath the surrounding grounds.
Countess Ermesinde founded the convent in 1247 as a family burial place, marking a key political union between the territory of Arlon and Luxembourg. The Cistercian nunnery expanded and adapted over the following centuries until eventually it was abandoned.
The abbey was the only known Cistercian convent of nuns in the region and continues to attract researchers interested in female religious communities. The prayer spaces and cloister reflect how the sisters who lived here spent their days in prayer, work, and contemplation.
The grounds are open for free exploration, allowing visitors to walk through stone passages and underground sections that can be reached via old wells and stairways. Wear sturdy shoes as the terrain is uneven and some structures are incomplete or partially collapsed.
A spring on the grounds became known as the site of healing miracles reportedly performed by Pope Eugene III around 1147, giving the abbey its name Clairefontaine meaning Clear Fountain. This papal connection to a northern Cistercian convent remains historically unusual and noteworthy.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
