'Even our ruins tell our story'
A Cistercian community arrived in Villers Abbey in the early XII century. The now quiet ruins were an empty field of dreams, and soon the plans to build an abbey grew bigger to create an impressive church in Gothic style. In its golden age, more than 400 monks lived here, and were the owners of land which would stretch as far as Antwerp.
16th and 17th centuries are marked by decline. Monks are forced to evade the site for nine times, fearing to be killed during invasions.
Upon their return, in the 18th century, new Neoclassical buildings were added - the remains of the church facade are testament to that.
The French Revolution chased the monks away for the last time. The Abbey was sacked and pillaged and then sold to be dismantled it piece by piece. Vegetation and rain did the rest and the Abbey fell into ruins.
The Abbey is now part of Wallonia’s exceptional heritage, and a point of destination for tourists and field trips. Its ruins and surrounding fields make any of us think of all the different communities that passed through here and the different traces of progress or destruction they left behind.
