Abbaye de Villers

About the museum

Villers Abbey was founded in 1146, when the knight Gauthier de Marbais and his mother Judith invited monks from Clairvaux to settle on their land. A new Romanesque building programme began in 1197; twelve years later the abbey adopted the Gothic style, and it took almost a century to complete. Around 1270, under Abbot Arnulphe de Gistelles, the monastery housed some 400 monks and owned almost 10,000 hectares of land.

Between 1508 and the end of the 17th century, the monks had to leave the site nine times because of insecurity. The 18th century was a second golden age: the medieval buildings were remodelled in the neoclassical style and the abbot's palace was built. In 1796 the French Revolution drove out the monks; the abbey was looted, sold to a building-materials dealer who dismantled it, and then left to the vegetation.

In the 19th century the ruins attracted Romantics and crowned heads; Victor Hugo visited them five times in the 1860s. The arrival of the railway in 1854 and 1855 brought the first tourists. A major restoration began in 1893; the ruins were listed as a monument in 1972 and as an exceptional heritage site of Wallonia in 1992. With 50,000 m² of walls preserved above ground and 5,000 m² of Romanesque and Gothic vaulting, it is one of the largest archaeological complexes in Belgium. A new visitor centre and a new visit route were opened in 2016.

Highlights

• Ruins of a Cistercian abbey founded in 1146, an exceptional heritage site of Wallonia
• Abbey church, cloister and monks' refectory
• Visitor centre with a model and touchscreens, free visit app
• Abbey gardens and vineyard, micro-brewery and Bistro
• “L'Ardoise” game and “Moi, Radulphe” booklet for families

Permanent exhibition

• Visite des ruines de l'abbaye et du centre du visiteur – Visit route through the abbey church, cloister, monks' refectory and gardens, with a visitor centre.

Operated by

ASBL Abbaye de Villers-la-Ville

Admission & discounts

Free for teachers (valid card), Friends of the Abbey and residents of Villers-la-Ville (identity card; not valid for events). Article 27: €1.25 plus a ticket. Annual subscription packages are available (Pass abbaye).

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The site is partially accessible to people with reduced mobility: wheelchairs can be used in the visitor centre and at the ruins; adapted toilets in the visitor centre; accessible parking spaces in the car park and in front of the Bistro. The Bistro room is not accessible, but the terrace is. Companion booklet in easy-read French (FALC) on request; activities adapted for visually impaired visitors (groups of 15 or more).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities
• Kids’ birthday parties

Visitor centre with a model and touchscreens; “L'Ardoise” game (10 stations); “Moi, Radulphe” activity booklet (€2.50, about 1 hour 30 minutes); paths partly marked for scooters and small bikes; baby changing table; activities, courses and children's birthday parties.

Getting there & parking

30 km south of Brussels. By bike: cycle network node 30, bicycle parking.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

The Bistro de l'Abbaye, open every day; shop; beers, vineyard and micro-brewery of the abbey.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Rooms for hire; team building and filming possible; see the pages “Salles” and “Teambuilding”.

Plan your visit