Orval monastery is a Cistercian monastery founded in 1132 located in Belgium in the Gaume region. The monastery is well-known by its history and spiritual life but also for its local production of a trappist beer (see Brasserie d'Orval) and a specific trappist cheese.

History of Orval

In 1070, monks from Italy settled in the county of Chiny in Belgium. The construction of a church and a small village had started at that time. After a short period of ten years, the initial monks moved away for an unknown reason and were replaced by a community of Canons (another type of monks).

In 1132, the Canons ran into various troubles and seven monks arrived as ordered by Constantin . The two communities formed a single community under the Cistercians usage.

Around 1252, the monastery was destroyed by a fire; the rebuilding (of the monastery and of the community of Orval) took around 100 years.

During the 15th and 16th, the various wars between France and various neighbouring regions (Burgundy, Spain) had an important impact on Orval.

The legend

Behind the establishment of the Orval monastery is a legend that Countess Mathilda of Tuscany lost her wedding ring in a fountain. When a trout appeared on the surface of the fountain with the ring in its mouth, she decided to build a monastery nearby.

External link

• The official website of the Orval monastery