Orval Abbey
Orval Abbey (Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Orval) is a
History
First foundation
The site has been occupied since the
In 1132, a group of Cistercian monks from
Around 1252, the monastery was destroyed by a fire; the rebuilding took around 100 years. Wenceslaus I was buried here in 1383.
In the literary field the monks of Orval did not much distinguish themselves. The only noteworthy writer was Aegidius or Gilles d'Orval, who lived in the first half of the thirteenth century. He wrote the continuation, to the year 1251, of the "Gesta Pontificum Leodiensium", which had been written up to the year 1048 by Heriger of Lobbes and Anselm of Liège.[2]
During the 15th and 16th centuries, the various wars between France and various neighbouring regions (Burgundy, Spain) had an important impact on Orval. At one stage a foundry was established on the site. In 1637, during the Thirty Years' War, the abbey was pillaged and burnt by French mercenaries.[3]
In the 17th century, the abbey converted to the
Second foundation
In 1887, the land and ruins were acquired by the Harenne family. They donated the lands to the Cistercian order in 1926 so that monastic life could resume on the site. Between 1926 and 1948, under the direction of the Trappist monk Marie-Albert van der Cruyssen, the new monastery was constructed, and in 1936 Orval regained the rank of abbey.[4] On 8 September 1948, the new church was consecrated. The abbey has many artifacts designed and produced by Camille Colruyt.[5]
The medieval tradition of brewing beer at the Abbey was revived in 1931 to generate funds for the rebuilding. The ruins of the medieval buildings remain on the site and are available to view.
Abbots of Orval Abbey
- 1936–1950 : Albert-Marie van der Cruyssen
- 1950–1966 : Vincent de Paul Sonthonnax
- 1966–1967 : Raphaël Boulet
- 1967–1971 : François-Xavier Hanin
- 1971–1980 : Étienne Gillard
- 1980–1981 : Denis Debusschere
- 1982–1984 : Jacques Bernier
- 1984–1988 : Paul Barbe
- 1988–1999 : Éric Dion
- 1999–2003 : Matthieu Cauwe
- 2003–2007 : Jean Kremer
- 2007–: Lode Van Hecke
The legend of Orval
There is a legend of the abbey's foundation, purporting to explain the name '"Orval" and the coat of arms. According to this, the widowed
References
- ^ Gades, John A. (1951). Luxembourg in the Middle Ages. Brill. p. 56.
- ^ a b c Ott, Michael. "Orval." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c "Orval Abbey", EEIG Ardennes
- ^ "Orval Abbey", Religiana
- ^ "HALLE/ ORVAL - Camille Colruyt in de Abdij van Orval".
- ^ "Legend of Orval", Orval Abbey
- Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
External links
- Orval Abbey website
- Abbey of the Trappists, Orval in ODIS - Online Database for Intermediary Structures
- Brewery
49°38′23″N 5°20′56″E / 49.63972°N 5.34889°E
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