St. Trudo's Abbey

St. Trudo's Abbey is a monastery complex in Sint-Kruis that brings together buildings from different periods, combining both religious and fortified structural elements. The compound includes a restored castle building with chapels, living quarters, and service buildings arranged around courtyards.

The monastery was founded in the 11th century and experienced several relocations before the community moved to Male Castle in 1954. This settlement at the new site ended a long period of movement for the monks.

The religious complex maintains traditional mass schedules with multiple daily services, continuing centuries of monastic practices in Bruges.

The grounds are private property and visits can only be arranged with prior permission from the abbey. Those interested should contact the administration directly to inquire about conditions and possible visiting options.

The compound was deliberately designed as a fusion between a castle fortress and a monastery, uniting military defensive functions with spiritual life under one roof. This dual purpose is unusual and shows how secular and religious functions sometimes coexisted side by side.