Walloon Abbeys

Wallonia has a rich monastic tradition that goes back to the sixth century, and nowhere does it come to life better than in the five abbeys of this multi-day route. Cistercians, Benedictines and Premonstratensians founded communities in the forests, valleys and hills of southern Belgium that became not only religious but also economic, cultural and agricultural centres. Today some abbeys are still living monastic communities with world-famous beers and cheeses, while others, as ruins, form a serene witness to a vanished era.

Begin your journey in Hainaut at Aulne Abbey on the bank of the Sambre, an impressive Cistercian ruin near Thuin. The adapted paths around the main building offer good accessibility. Then drive to the province of Namur for Floreffe Abbey, a living Premonstratensian community with a school building and a celebrated brewery. End the first day at Maredsous Abbey, located in the picturesque Molignee Valley, where you can taste the famous Maredsous cheese and beer and explore the fully accessible visitor centre.

On the second and third day you head deeper into the Ardennes. Orval Abbey in the province of Luxembourg is perhaps the most famous of all, with its world-famous Trappist beer and atmospheric ruined section. The living monastery building is partially wheelchair accessible, and the shop and visitor route are well arranged for wheelchair users. Stavelot Abbey, in the heart of the old prince-bishopric, today houses three museums: the Stavelot Museum, the Spa-Francorchamps Museum and the Apollinaire Museum. The abbey buildings are fully wheelchair accessible via lifts and wide entrances.

Practical tips: this route requires several overnight stays, preferably in accessible B&Bs or hotels in Thuin, Dinant or Stavelot. Disabled parking spaces are present at every abbey. Distances between the abbeys can run to over a hundred kilometres, so count on adapted transport by car or taxi. Combine the route with regional gastronomy: every abbey has a tasting room or restaurant. Plan rest days to enjoy the Ardenne landscape.