Sacred Spaces > Abbaye du Parc
   | | Abbaye du Parc The Prémontré Park Abbey was founded in 1129 near to Leuven, the present capital of the Flemish Brabant province in Belgium, on land donated to the Prémontrés by Godfrey the Bearded, Duke of Brabant. Rapidly the foundation prospered and broke free from the French mother abbey. Successive generations of Prémontrés, inspired by their founder Norbert worked in the abbey, cultivated the land, founded churches, chapels and presbyteries that they held services in themselves. It was during the 17th century that the abbey had its most glorious period. Its religious, cultural, economic, intellectual and social importance was strong and the possessions of the Canon fathers covered a network of over one hundred villages. Today, 42 hectares of this domain remain. The present buildings date from the 17th and 18th century: the last stage of the construction was completed in 1730, with the construction of the church's bell tower. By the particular authenticity of its cloister, the wonderful library, the ancient and renowned archives, its green domain with 4 ponds, the Park Abbey of Heverlee is one of the best preserved monastic sites in Belgium and Holland. In 2003 the Norbertine community decided to donate a large part of the domain in perpetuity to the town of Leuven. Since that day, a group of partners including the religious community itself, the town of Leuven, the Brabant province, the cercle des amis of the Abbey, the art and religious culture centre and the Park Abbey museum work together to restore and re-enhance this unique site. New co-owner of the site, the town of Leuven wishes to transform the site into an oasis of peace, culture and tranquillity for the general public. The abbey itself remains the property of the Norbertine monks and will be transformed into a museum of Flemish art and religious culture, under the aegis of the "Musée de l'abbaye du Parc" association, created in 2003. |
