Maredsous Abbey, Benedictine abbey in Anhée, Belgium
Maredsous Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Maredsous, in the municipality of Anhée, Belgium. Its church, built from 1877 to 1887 to plans by Jean-Baptiste Bethune, has a grey stone Gothic Revival facade with two tall square towers, each topped by a steep pyramidal roof and a cross; the left tower carries two red clock faces, the right one a single clock face. Between the towers a large pointed window with three lancets sits above a row of arched doorways. The overall plan follows the 13th-century Cistercian abbey of Villers-la-Ville.
The monastery was established in 1872 and received abbey status in 1878. It grew rapidly to become an important Benedictine center with strong ties to the broader European monastic network.
The abbey church, a minor basilica since 1926, holds the monks' choir where the Office is sung several times a day. The former School of Applied Arts and Crafts, opened in 1903 under Father Pascal Rox, trained artists such as Jijé and Félix Roulin before merging into the Namur IATA in 1964. An annual Christmas market fills the grounds, with an indoor skating rink.
The grounds are open to visitors who can book guided tours to explore the main areas. It is helpful to check ahead about access conditions, as some sections may be reserved for the monastic community.
The abbey runs a traditional cheese production in special cellars beneath the buildings, where monks employ time-honored techniques. These cheeses have gained recognition throughout Belgium and are valued by visitors and food connoisseurs.
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