Villers La Ville

On Monday Paije and I visited Villers Abby. Founded in 1146, the abby took nearly a century to build. At its peak it was estimated to of housed up to 100 monks and 300 lay brothers. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the abbey's fortunes continued to diminish. The number of monks and the abbey's wealth dwindled and it was finally abandoned in 1796 in the wake of the French Revolution. Most of the site has since fallen into ruins. In 1893, the Belgian state purchased the site and launched a conservation effort. The church, although in ruins, is an outstanding example of Cistercian architecture, with imposing vaulting, arches, and rose window.

This is what is looks like in the summer. This is what we saw.