Location
Official nameAbbaye N.-D. d’Orval
Number50
Contact Information
Telephone[32] (61) 31 10 60
Community emailwebmaster@orval.be
Guesthouse emailhotellerie@orval.be
Business emailfromagerie@orval.be
Websitewww.orval.be
SuperiorDom Xavier Frisque, Superior ad nutum 2024
Other Information
Juridical statusAbbey
DioceseDioecesis Namurcensis (Namur)
OCSO regionCNE
OriginsOriginally founded in 1070; Cistercian in 1132; destroyed in 1793; re-established by Fr. Albert Van der Cruyssen, monk of La Trappe, with monks of Sept-Fons who had returned from Maristella, Brazil; annex house of Sept-Fons until 1935; thereafter autonomous abbey.
History
- 1070: Ancient monastery founded in 1070, distinguished by the generosity of the Countess Mathilde, populated in 1132 by Cistercians from Trois Fontaine.
- 1674: Having had the renowned Bernard de Montgaillard as abbot, the community adopts the reforms of de Rancé.
- 1793: Destroyed by French Revolutionaries.
- 1926: The ruined monastery is offered to the Order in the person of Fr. Albert Van der Cruyssen, monk of La Trappe. Since La Trappe was unable to assure the restoration of monastic life there, Dom Chautard decided to transfer the refuge of Maristella there.
- 1927, 11 March: the first monks from Sept-Fons move into temporary dwellings while the ruins are being arranged and the new monastery built.
- 1929, 19 August: The cornerstone of the new church is laid.
- 1935: the General Chapter authorizes its erection as an abbey, which is granted by the Holy See on 13 December 1935.
- 1936, 29 February: election of the 53rd abbot of Orval, the first since the community’s restoration.
- 1939, 5 June: Blessing of the church, which is raised to the rank of minor basilica.
- 1948: Its construction finally completed in 1947, the church, raised to the rank of basilica, is consecrated by His Emm. Cardinal Micara.
Father immediateSept-Fons (jsuqu’en 1946) ; Westmalle (jusqu’en 2022); Délégué du Père Immédiat, Dom Damien Debaisieux de Scourmont
Daughter housesBrialmont.
Clairefontaine.
Past superiors
- Jean-Baptiste CHAUTARD — Abbot — ?/ ?/1926 – 29/09/1935
- Albert van der CRUYSSEN — Abbot — 29/02/1936 – 24/11/1950
- Etienne GILLARD — Apostolic Administrator — 04/09/1949 – 19/12/1950
- Vincent de Paul SONTHONNAX — Abbot — 19/12/1950 – 21/11/1966
- Raphaël BOULET — Abbé — 12/12/1966 – 24/10/1967
- François-Xavier HANIN — Abbé — 14/11/1967 – 05/10/1971
- Etienne GILLARD — Supérieur ad nutum — ?/10/1971 – 25/02/1974
- Etienne GILLARD — Abbé — 25/02/1974 – 10/11/1980
- Denis DEBUSSCHERE — Abbé — 26/11/1980 – 09/10/1981
- Jacques BERNIER — Supérieur ad nutum — 16/02/1982 – 17/11/1984
- Paul BARBE — Supérieur ad nutum — 17/11/1984 – 11/03/1988
- Eric DION — Abbé — 12/03/1988 – 19/08/1999
- Matthieu CAUWE — Supérieur ad nutum — 19/08/1999 — 13/03/2001
- Matthieu CAUWE — Abbé — 13/03/2001 — 22/09/2003
- Jean KREMER — Supérieur ad nutum — 30/09/2003 – 25/01/2007
- Lode VAN HECKE — Abbé — 25/01/2007 – 2019
- Bernard-Joseph SAMAIN — Supérieur ad nutum 2020 – 20/09/2024
Work/incomeCheese, bread, beer, souvenirs.
Guest facilities60 rooms
TransportationGares belges : Florenville, 10 km., Marbehan, 20 km. Gares françaises : Carignan ou Montmédy, les 2 à 20 km
Back to overview