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.

User Reviews

Mara Pen (3 years ago)
Very interesting monastery to visit and learn a lot about the white monks.

Julie Nakazi (3 years ago)
Nice place! try the Leffe Ruby when you go there!

Agustin S (3 years ago)
Not too much too see

Md Tawhid Hossain (5 years ago)
What a lovely place!!

Luc Brands (5 years ago)
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Photo from Flickr, copyright Zvonimir Hrvoj

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Notre-Dame de Leffe Abbey

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