Koningshoeven Abbey, Trappist monastery in Tilburg, Netherlands.
Koningshoeven Abbey is a Trappist monastery in Tilburg, in the south of the Netherlands, with a working brewery, bakery, church, and monks' quarters all on a single grounds. The buildings are connected by paths that pass through open green areas, giving the place a spacious and ordered feel.
French monks founded the abbey in 1881 after being forced to leave their home country due to religious persecution. Over the following decades, the community grew and the site became one of the better-known Trappist centers in northern Europe.
The monks brew beer under the La Trappe label, one of the few Trappist brands in the world that visitors can taste right at the source. The on-site café lets you sit with a glass while looking out at the abbey buildings and gardens.
Guided tours of the church, brewery, and bakery are available, and there is parking on the grounds. Some paths are cobblestone or uneven, so comfortable walking shoes are a good idea before you set out.
A natural spring beneath the grounds has supplied water for brewing since the abbey was first established, and it is still in use today. This makes the water source one of the oldest continuously used elements of the entire operation.
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