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Abbey · Dinant, Namur
Abbaye de Maredsous
Neogothic Benedictine abbey in the Molignée valley, founded in 1872, with a basilica, cloister and the Saint-Joseph visitor centre, where you can taste the cheese and beer that bear the place's name.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Abbaye de Maredsous
The Abbaye de Maredsous sits atop a wooded hill in the Molignée valley, northwest of Dinant. It was founded in 1872 by Benedictine monks from the abbey of Beuron in Germany, funded by the Desclée family. It became an abbey in 1878, and about thirty monks live there following the Rule of Saint Benedict, combining prayer, work and hospitality.
The buildings were designed by Jean-Baptiste de Béthune, one of the leading figures of the neogothic movement in Belgium, based on the plan of the old Cistercian abbey of Villers. Construction finished in 1892. The church was given the title of minor basilica by Pope Pius XI in 1926, and holds the tomb of the Blessed Columba Marmion. The frescoes are from the Beuron art school.
Visitors enter through the Saint-Joseph welcome centre, housed in the buildings of the former arts and crafts school. There you find the café, offering bread, cheese and Maredsous beer, the bookshop, the ceramics shop and the small dairy museum. The cheese is still made at the abbey. The beer has been produced under licence by a brewery in Flanders since 1963.
From the centre depart guided tours of the church and grounds, in French and Dutch, as well as a nature trail through the wood. The church can be visited outside prayer times, in silence.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
An hour and a half to two hours, including the church, a walk around the grounds and a stop at the café. Half a day if you do the trail.
Best time
The Saint-Joseph centre is open year-round, except on 1 January. Spring and summer weekends are the busiest. On 11 July, the feast of São Bento, the abbey hosts a pilgrimage. Check the guided tour times.
How to get there
It is in Denée, municipality of Anhée, about 15 kilometres northwest of Dinant. The practical way is by car, with parking on site. By public transport, check regional bus lines from Dinant or Namur.
Tip
Combine Maredsous and the Jardins d'Annevoie on the same day by car, departing from Dinant or Namur. At the café, try the tartine with abbey cheese. Dogs are allowed on the grounds, but not in the church or on guided tours.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Abbaye de Maredsous
Is Maredsous beer made by the monks?
No. Since 1963 the beer has been produced under license by a brewery in Flanders. The Maredsous cheese, however, continues to be made at the abbey.
Can you enter the abbey church?
Yes. The basilica can be visited outside prayer times, in silence, and there are guided tours that depart from the Saint-Joseph center.
When was the abbey founded?
In 1872, by Benedictine monks from the German abbey of Beuron, with support from the Desclée family. Construction finished in 1892.