Belgium and its abbeys, an inseparable pair. Whether it is the centuries-old Trappist monasteries that brew their famous beers, the Norbertine abbeys with their Baroque churches, or the Cistercian sites with their austere architecture, the Belgian landscape is dotted with monastic gems. For wheelchair users, however, an abbey visit is not always straightforward. Old monastic buildings come with thresholds, cobblestones, stairs and changes in level. The good news is that many abbeys have made progress in recent years to make their public spaces more accessible. We cover the eleven most important abbeys where at least part is step-free to visit, with their specific points of attention.
The Trappists of the north: Westmalle and Westvleteren
The Westmalle Abbey is one of the seven authentic Trappist breweries in the world and uniquely accessible: the adjoining cafe and visitor centre are fully step-free, with accessible toilets and a level link between the car park and the hospitality area. The church and the actual monastery buildings are not open to the public, this remains an active community. For a combination of calm, history and the famous Westmalle Tripel, the visitor centre is ideal.
The Westvleteren Abbey in the Westhoek is harder to visit, the monks do not allow guided tours, but the adjacent In de Vrede is a wheelchair-accessible cafe-restaurant where the world-famous Westvleteren beer is served. A step-free terrace and accessible sanitary facilities make it a pleasant break stop on a Westhoek tour.
The Norbertines: Tongerlo, Park, Postel and Averbode
The Tongerlo Abbey near Westerlo is one of the more accessible Norbertine abbeys. The abbey shop, where local products and the well-known abbey beer are sold, is step-free. The inner courtyards are partly paved, and the Da Vinci hall, with the world-famous copy of the Last Supper, is reachable by lift. A wheelchair can be borrowed at reception. Combine with a rest stop at the adjoining abbey terrace.
The Park Abbey near Heverlee is one of the best-preserved abbey sites in Flanders. The PARCUM visitor centre, which focuses on religious heritage, is fully step-free with lifts and accessible toilets. The outdoor paths around the fish ponds are partly paved and partly built with semi-paved dolomite, and easy to navigate in dry weather.
The Postel Abbey in the Antwerp Kempen lies in the middle of an extensive heath area. The abbey shop with cheeses and beer is partially accessible, and the outdoor area with the ponds and the old lime avenue is easy to explore by wheelchair on the main paths. The Averbode Abbey, also Norbertine, offers a large visitor centre with cafeteria, bakery and bookshop, all easily accessible from the central car park.
The Benedictines: Grimbergen
The Grimbergen Abbey is famous for its abbey beer and has a magnificent Baroque abbey church. The church itself is accessible step-free via a side entrance with a ramp, and the extensive abbey gardens, one of the best-preserved garden ensembles in Flanders, have paved main paths. The Sint-Servaas Basilica itself is an accessible church with attention to inclusivity.
The Cistercians in Wallonia: Orval, Aulne, Maredsous, Floreffe
The most legendary of the Belgian abbeys is perhaps the Orval Abbey in the Gaume. The ruins of the old abbey are partly accessible via paved paths, and the museum at the entrance is wheelchair-accessible. The visitor centre has accessible toilets. The modern abbey itself, where the monks still live and brew beer, is not open to the public.
The Abbaye d'Aulne near Thuin is a romantic ruin along the Sambre. Many paths are unpaved but the central ruins are reachable via a ramp. The adjoining brewery cafe is partially step-free. The Abbaye de Maredsous in Namur is an active monastery with a large, wheelchair-accessible visitor area, a step-free shop and a terrace overlooking the Molignee valley. The Abbaye de Floreffe is known for its Baroque church and stunning views over the Sambre; the church is accessible with assistance, and the gardens are largely step-free.
Practical tips for an abbey route
Combine an abbey with a culinary moment. Most of the abbeys mentioned have an adjoining cafe or restaurant where you can taste the abbey beer or abbey cheese. This makes a visit not only historic but also flavourful, and these are usually the most accessible parts of the site.
Visit outside busy times if possible. On Sundays and public holidays, popular abbeys such as Orval and Maredsous get quite busy. On a Tuesday or Thursday morning you have far more space to wheel around quietly.
Ask in advance about the accessibility of any guided tours. Some abbeys organise tours that show parts of the monastery itself. Not all sections are wheelchair-accessible, but by asking ahead you know what route to expect and can request an adapted tour where needed.
Plan plenty of rest. Abbey visits are usually contemplative in character, less tiring than an amusement park, but with a lot of standing and looking. By deliberately scheduling breaks at a pond, a terrace or a quiet garden, everyone enjoys the special atmosphere of these places more.
Belgium has many other abbeys not covered in this guide. For those interested in religious heritage in a broader sense, we refer you to our guide Wheelchair-accessible castles in Belgium, which also features abbeys that have been converted into castles or museums.