Orval Abbey

Orval Abbey is home to one of Belgium’s famous Trappists beers made by monks. It’s over two hours from Brussels, but only slightly out of our way home from Luxembourg! It is similar to the ruins of Viller’s Abbey, except the monastery was partially rebuilt and is currently active.

The Mathilde Fountain, a circular pool fed by the Orval Spring on the grounds, is steeped in legend. The Orval Spring also supplies the water from the abbey’s beer and cheese production, so that’s its own legend.

The story goes that Countess Mathilde of Tuscany (1046-1115) was hunting one day in the woods of the Count de Chiny. Mathilde was the widow of the Duke of Basse Lorraine (Orval is just across the border from Alsace) as well as aunt of Godefroy de Bouillon (the Crusader who was the first King of Jerusalem I think). So mid-hunt, Mathilde stopped in a valley to drink from a fountain when her wedding ring fell into the water and was lost. She entered a nearby chapel to pray, and then a trout swam up from the depths of the pool carrying the ring in its mouth.

“This is truly a golden valley!” cried Mathilde. She gave loads of money to the monks to build a great church. In 1070, the Count Arnould de Chiny donated the land called the Orval Desert to Benedictine monks from Calbria, Italy.

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“Love is a voice that rises towards God and love is the new chant.” —Saint Augustine

The monastery is nearly a thousand years old with several different building phases. Like many churches we’ve seen, they were closed down and fell into disrepair after the French Revolution. This one was reestablished a century ago and the monks are here today, peacefully making cheese and beer.

“How a man spends his time reveals his life and priorities. Today, a monk’s time is organized around his engagements with God and his free time is devoted to communal or individual prayer. Prayer, mediation, work and communal life punctuate his day. The current scheduling of the community is still arranged in the way proposed by Saint Benedict:”

The monks’ day starts at 4 a.m. with Vigils, silent prayer, meditation on the Bible, breakfast. At 7 a.m. is Lauds, with the celebration of the Eucharist. There’s a community meeting in the chapter room and study time. Morning work begins at 9 a.m. with more prayer at noon before 12:15 p.m. lunch. Afternoon work begins at 2:15 p.m., then the day’s end is signaled by 5:40 p.m. prayer, vespers, the evening meal, personal time, meetings, etc. Compline at 8 p.m. is the day’s final item.

It’s well past 8 p.m., so I’m going to bed!