Villers-la-Ville

Villers-la-ville

12 kilometers east of Nivelles is a ruined Cistercian abbey of Villers la Ville. Dark ruins of the once magnificent abbey is an excellent example of how the French Revolution celebrated with places of worship. Surrounded by forests ruins, occasional nature of acquiring control over the environment make a big impression. Although ruined abbey is a great testament to the medieval monastic architecture.

villers-la-ville, fot. m. rochowiak

The origins of this wonderful place dates back to 1146 year. Then a group of 12 monks, one of the abbot, and 5 converse, founded here by order of St. Bernard branch monastery in Clairvaux. With time, the abbey began to grow and derive income from such an extensive farm (10 thousand. Hectares). This allowed to start in 1200 of the year, the construction of the impressive monastery complex in the area 15 hectares. The 1217 was formed choir, the crypt 1240 and 1267 refectory. XIII century is the period of greatest development of the abbey. Then inhabited by some monks 100, and 300 brothers.

Abbey remained in the Middle Ages an important cultural center. However, in the sixteenth century, during the wars of the Netherlands began its slow decline. In the 1544 year during the attack Spanish troops has severely damaged the church and the monastery buildings. After these experiments, we managed to raise from the ruins of the abbey. The final collapse came in 1794 year. The monastery looted and destroyed by French revolutionaries.

Fortunately, 1893, the Belgian government bought the abbey grounds and began restoration work. As a result, although part of this impressive monastery has survived to this day. In the 1973 abbey ruins inscribed on the list of monuments.

villers-la-ville, fot. m. rochowiak

The most impressive are the imposing ruins of the monastery church, located in the northern corner of the complex. Their dimensions rather reminiscent of the cathedral than the Cistercian church. 90 m in length, 40 m wide, and 23 m height at the highest point of the dimensions that make a great impression. His great nave was supported by massive cylindrical columns. Transept and choir are the first known monuments of the Gothic style of Brabant. Interesting are also the heating room, workshop, Romanesque-Gothic refectory, kitchen, and situated on the edge of the whole complex of the brewery.

Abbey also offers a chance to explore the four gardens: the garden of medical herbs, garden monks, garden shovel, and a garden pharmacy. During the tour the gardens, you can learn a lot of medieval herbs used by the monks. To see the beautiful flowering herbs and flowers, visit the abbey during the period from late July to mid-September, when most of them bloom. Garden tour is included in the ticket price to the abbey.