Notre-Dame de Leffe Abbey

Dinant, Belgium

The abbey of Leffe was founded in 1152 on the river Meuse in southern Belgium. Like many monasteries across Europe, the Premonstratensian (Norbertine) canons of the abbey brewed ale, starting in 1240. Using knowledge passed from generation to generation and ingredients found in the wild near the abbey, the canons developed a unique ale with a subtle taste and high alcohol content, brewed only at the abbey.

The abbey has been damaged by both natural and human circumstances over the years: it was destroyed by a flood in 1460, a fire swept through the settlement in 1466, billeted troops damaged the brewery in 1735, and the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1794 resulted in it being abandoned and the brewery destroyed. The canons returned in 1902.

Address

Place de l'Abbaye 7, Dinant, Belgium

See all sites in Dinant

Details

Founded: 1152
Category: Religious sites in Belgium

More Information

www.abbaye-de-leffe.be

Rating

4.2/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Villers Abbey (44,7 km)
Annevoie Castle (9,6 km)
Bouillon Castle (54,2 km)
Belfry of Namur (21,9 km)
Charleroi Belfry (36,5 km)
Floreffe Abbey (21,1 km)
Château de Lavaux-Sainte-Anne (21,5 km)
St Aubin's Cathedral (22 km)
Opheylissem Castle (53,3 km)

User Reviews

Md Tawhid Hossain (2 years ago)
What a lovely place!!

Luc Brands (2 years ago)
Top

Stefano Lisi (Ste) (3 years ago)
Beautiful church, but be aware that this is not the Leffe brewery and there are only restricted times for visits and to be booked!

Chiel Bloos (3 years ago)
A very peaceful place. Recommend to experience it yourself...

Philip Van Ootegem (3 years ago)
I am biassed. I spent two summers here writing my master's paper, 40 years back. But 40 years is nothing compared to the age of the abbey building. The monks are friendly, hospitable and always prepared listen. The only reason why I gave 4 stars and not five,is the location. The abbey is on the outskirts of a small village waiting for you to be discoveted

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Landmarks of Sicily

Rhodes, The Island of Knights

Great Spa Towns of Europe

Photo from Flickr, copyright Riccardo Ravelli

Historic Site of the week

Redipuglia World War I Memorial

Redipuglia is the largest Italian Military Sacrarium. It rises up on the western front of the Monte Sei Busi, which, in the First World War was bitterly fought after because, although it was not very high, from its summit it allowed an ample range of access from the West to the first steps of the Karstic table area.

The monumental staircase on which the remains of one hundred thousand fallen soldiers are lined up and which has at its base the monolith of the Duke of Aosta, who was the commanding officer of the third Brigade, and gives an image of a military grouping in the field of a Great Unity with its Commanding Officer at the front. The mortal remains of 100,187 fallen soldiers lie here, 39,857 of them identified and 60,330 unknown.