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Villers Abbey, located in the town of Villers-la-Ville, in a field of more than 36 hectares, is a place of escapism tinged with emotion.

Here is a view of the church.

The church building is the most imposing ruins - 94 m long arches of the nave rising to 23 m - and is among the first buildings of style and Gothic structure of our regions. The construction of the abbey began in 1197 in Romanesque style, as evidenced by the porch. Thereafter, from 1210, through successive stages until 1267, we adopted the Gothic style, more slender and light, while maintaining rigor and sobriety in the decoration, the aesthetic characteristics of Cistercian. One of the peculiarities of the church is the repeated use of oculi combined with lancet windows that make the chorus a construction unique. In the 18th century redesign the facade of the church in a classic taste.

The abbey.
Its foundation dates from the 12th century under the impetus of Saint Bernard. Today, its ruins are one of the most prestigious in the life of the monks of the Cistercian Order.

History
In 1146, at the invitation of the Lord of Marbais and her mother Judith and under the impetus of Saint Bernard, a priest, twelve monks and five conversation coming from Clairvaux in Villers to found an abbey (Villers I). After a few months, the religious choose the final location of the monastery in the lower valley (Villers II). The site had several advantages: a valley sufficiently removed, water in abundance, construction materials at hand.

Order builder
These first buildings no longer exist: the Abbey has been completely rebuilt during the 13th century (Villers III), its peak time of spiritual and temporal. Some abbots are called to high office and ecclesiastical texts preserved mention many holy monks and conversation in the community.

The Abbey had at that time - according to the chronicle! - A hundred monks and three times more conversation. The field included ten of thousands of hectares, divided between Antwerp and Namur and operated by different barns. Villers also enjoyed the protection of the powerful dukes of Brabant.

Decline
The first internal crises arise from the late Middle Ages (fewer conversation, ...). From the 16th to the late 17th century, the Abbey is a succession of quiet and turbulent periods, during which the monks left the scene nine times for reasons of insecurity.
Renaissance and fall

The 18th century was however the second golden age of the Abbey, during which the medieval buildings are redeveloped in the classical style. In 1796, the revolutionary French government removes the Abbey and sold as national property to a merchant of materials. The majestic ruins of the monastery attract romantics throughout the 19th century. The first restoration began in 1893. It was not until 1984 to see a new site of major restoration. It is still ongoing.