Abdij van Sinnich, Religious monastery in Voeren, Belgium
Abdij van Sinnich is a monastery in Voeren featuring a rectangular main structure with a mansard roof and stone-framed windows throughout. The central entrance displays the abbess coat of arms, while gardens stretch along the Gulp River beside the complex.
Founded in 1243 by Augustinian canons from Rolduc Abbey, the monastery was established to house a women's community. This convent had relocated from Schaarn in the Netherlands to its present location in what is now Belgium.
The monastery accepted only daughters from noble families starting in 1703, reflecting the social hierarchy of Belgian aristocracy in the 1700s. This selective practice made it an important educational center for women of the upper classes.
The abbey sits at Kasteelstraat 11 in a location surrounded by gardens that run alongside the Gulp River. Visitors can explore the grounds to enjoy both the architectural features and the natural setting of the riverside location.
A preserved Romanesque tower from the 13th century survives as the oldest part of the original monastery. This tower gives visitors a window into the early medieval architecture that once defined the entire complex.
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