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

Mara Pen (2 years ago)
Very interesting monastery to visit and learn a lot about the white monks.

Julie Nakazi (2 years ago)
Nice place! try the Leffe Ruby when you go there!

Agustin S (2 years ago)
Not too much too see

Md Tawhid Hossain (4 years ago)
What a lovely place!!

Luc Brands (4 years ago)
Top

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Photo from Flickr, copyright CONTROTONO

Historic Site of the week

Clementinum

The Clementinum is a historic complex of buildings in Prague. Until recently the complex hosted the National, University and Technical libraries, the City Library also being located nearby on Mariánské Náměstí. The Technical library and the Municipal library have moved to the Prague National Technical Library at Technická 6 since 2009. It is currently in use as the National Library of the Czech Republic.

Its history dates from the existence of a chapel dedicated to Saint Clement in the 11th century. A Dominican monastery was founded in the medieval period, which was transformed in 1556 to a Jesuit college. In 1622 the Jesuits transferred the library of Charles University to the Klementinum, and the college was merged with the University in 1654. The Jesuits remained until 1773, when the Klementinum was established as an observatory, library, and university by the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria.