Stavelot
It is one of the oldest cities in Belgium, located in the heart of the Hautes Ardennes region. Founded in 648 by Saint Remaclus, a monk from Limoges. For over a thousand years, the city, which grew around the abbey, maintained its independence. At that time, Stavelot-Malmedy Abbey was an important spiritual and political center. Unfortunately, the years of glory passed after the French Revolution, which contributed to the secularization and destruction of the monastery. Today, the city's greatest attractions are the magnificent abbey, housing three museums, and the Laetare Carnival. Fans of active recreation will find many cycling, hiking and even horseback riding trails in the nearby forests. All information, including maps, can be obtained at the tourist information office. In the nearby town of Coo there is a kayaking center and an amusement park.
Stavelot Abbey
A place included on the List of Exceptional Heritage Sites of Wallonia. Founded in the 7th century by Saint Remaklus, it became a spiritual and political center for ten centuries. After the destruction caused by the French Revolution, the abbey was demolished. Today, only the western entrance remains of the church, in the form of a massive tower. Thanks to the discovered foundations of the 11th-century abbey church, its dimensions can be admired. The remaining buildings date from the 18th century. The preserved stone and brick buildings were of a secular nature, while the buildings belonging to the monks now house a museum.
Spa-Francorchamps Racecourse Museum
The museum, hidden in the beautiful basement of Stavelot Abbey, recreates the magnificent history of the legendary racetrack. The presentation of original documents, visual panels and, above all, the constantly updated collection of exceptional racing cars that compete on this track, introduces visitors to the world of Formula 1 and the iconic 24-hour races. The museum opened in 1984. Since 2002, it has been part of the museum complex located in the Stavelot Abbey, which also includes the Principality Museum and the Guillaume Apollonaire Poet Museum .
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Adres:
Cour de l'Abbaye 1 4970 Stavelot |
Opening hours:
Daily: 10.00-18.00 |
Fare:
10 Euros |
Church of St. Sebastian
The temple, built of stone and brick in 1754, underwent a thorough renovation at the end of the 20th century. Inside it hides several interesting monuments. The most valuable is undoubtedly the magnificent reliquary, a masterpiece of Mosan goldsmiths from the 13th century, containing the relics of Saint Remaklus. Also worth seeing are the wooden sculptures, the pulpit and the organ made by Korfmacher in 1841.
Streets of Stavelot
Stavelot is a small town, so all the interesting streets are located around the market square. During the walk, visitors will see interesting, ancient tenement houses, fountains and war memorials. Some were created in memory of the inhabitants of Stavelot lost during World War II, others as an expression of gratitude to the soldiers who liberated the city. A careful observer wandering the stone streets of the old town will see posters depicting wolves in many places. Animals formerly numerous in the Ardennes forests.
According to legend, in order to help Saint Remaklus build the monastery, he was provided with a donkey to serve as a beast of burden. During one of the expeditions to the quarry, a donkey was attacked by a wolf that Saint Remaklus had sentenced to carry stones needed to build a temple. Hence the presence of the wolf in the abbey's coat of arms, as well as in the coat of arms of Stavelot. Wolf sculptures can also be seen on the fountain in the market square.
Carnival of Laetare
The center of the city is the sloping, cobbled Saint Remaklus Square. It is here, on the fourth Sunday of Lent, that the main celebrations of Carnival take place, the biggest attraction of which is the procession Blancs Moussis. For several centuries, Stavelot was the capital of the Principality-Abbey of Stavelot-Malmedy. According to legend, the then Prince-Abbot forbade his clerics from participating in secular ceremonies. In 1502, in response to the ban, residents created white hooded costumes, discreetly reminiscent of monastic habits. Eventually, Prince-Abbot Wilhelm von Manderscheid-Kail accepted the costumes, to which the inhabitants added a mask with a very long, red and pointed nose. The Blancs Moussis procession has been a symbol of Walloon folklore for over five centuries, and its participants are often invited as special guests to the carnivals of Cologne, Saint-Quentin and other cities.