In the 11th century, Irish monks settled on the banks of the Meuse and founded a Benedictine abbey. It has developed over the centuries, meeting with success and rivalry.

Built in 1033-1035 in the Mosan Romanesque architectural style, the Abbey Church was part of this abbey, which stood alongside it until the 18th century. Between 1260 and 1264, the Romanesque apse was destroyed and the Abbey Church was extended to include a Gothic choir with a remarkable ribbed vault.

The monastery was partially burnt down in 1568 by the Huguenots and completely destroyed in 1793 by the Revolutionaries. Restored in the 19th century, the Abbey Church is now one of the finest Romanesque monuments in Belgium. It symbolises faith, history and the vicissitudes of mankind.

Visitors will be able to discover prestigious examples of Romanesque and Gothic art, stalls with mercy seats dating from 1443, wall paintings, tombstones, exceptional statuary (Romanesque Virgin, sculptures by Lambert Lombart, 16th-century Calvary, Triptych by Auguste Donnay) and even contemporary works of art, such as a Vietnamese Way of the Cross.

But what really makes an impression is the richness of the crypt beneath the altar: Merovingian sarcophagi, 12th-century graffiti, ancient reliquaries and many other remains of the former abbey make visitors aware of its past and its roots.

Information and bookings for visits:

Jonathan PORIGNAUX – Responsable – Guide.
Rue Marcel Lespagne 70 à 5540 Hastière-Lavaux.. Tél : 082/64.46.22 ou 0474/42.39.99
E-Mail : musee.hastiere@live.be