Villers-Bettnach Abbey, Saint-Hubert, France

Villers-Bettnach Abbey is a former Cistercian abbey in the commune of Saint-Hubert. In 1134 Heinrich von Spanheim, abbot of Morimond Abbey, founded Villers-Bettnach Abbey on land given for the purpose by Simon I, Duke of Lorraine; Heinrich himself was the first abbot, holding the position together with that at Morimond. The community flourished, and monks from Villers-Bettnach later settled a number of daughter houses.

In 1552 the monastery was laid waste. Between 1724 and 1729 a new church was built. The French Revolution caused the dissolution of the monastery in 1790, and the abbey buildings and site were turned over to agricultural uses. Those buildings that survived were later acquired by the town of Boulay-Moselle (Bolchen), which built a convalescent home there. The site is now looked after by the Association des Amis des Sites de St-Hubert.

The cloister was sited to the north of the church. The monumental gateway arch of the 17th century (the Portail Coislin) survives, as do numerous remains of the 13th century church, a vaulted hall church of six bays with a transept and a polygonal apse, and a Chapel of St. Catherine with bifora windows, which stands over a building of the 12th century. Another survival is the 17th century Peasants' Chapel (German: Bauernkapelle; French: Chapelle des Humbles), which is now used as a parish church. The conventual buildings were somewhere to the left of the church.

References:

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User Reviews

Samuel Kellenberger (8 months ago)
Small, very practical parking lot, but then the very site of the ruins seems completely abandoned. The remains are overgrown by vegetation and the meadow is not maintained. Most of the paths have disappeared... I came there a few years ago: day and night! Apart from the map at the car park, no information panel on the site.

Lucas Stelitano (2 years ago)
The site is very interesting, first of all, it is interesting to visit this place which is located in a valley, we pass through fields and then suddenly the area becomes wooded and much more hilly. It is a green setting which, by definition, is pleasant for those who want to find themselves in the heart of Nature. Regarding the monument aspect, there are two chapels to see, one upon your arrival and the other in the hamlet which today belongs to an individual. The second is very old, from the 12th - 13th century. There is an old cemetery with inscriptions still visible on the tombstones (19th century tombs). A door erected for the consecration of the abbey church is also visible, it dates from the 18th century. Finally, there are also ruins of the old abbey which can be seen from the two enclosure paths on either side of the site (there is an explanatory panel at the entrance next to the car park). The site is worth it if you pass by, the visit lasts an hour. It's free of course. PS: I didn't come there for the hikes but there are, and this won't surprise me, wonderful hiking trails, there would also be a pond.

rene dulion (2 years ago)
Superb quiet place in the middle of the forest

Roald Verschuur (2 years ago)
A very quiet, beautiful place where you can really relax.

Christophe Angelini (2 years ago)
There is little left to see of the Abbey itself, apart from scattered ruins here and there on private land. Nevertheless, the place is worth a look and is an excellent starting point for wonderful hikes. The oak of the Moines is not far (take the path that climbs along the abbey), and other courses to the south are really nice and soothing in this majestic forest. The small church and its cemetery with old tombs are very beautiful.

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