Orval
Location
Official Name Abbaye N.-D. d'Orval
N° 50
Country Belgium
City Villers-devant-Orval
Postcode B-6823
Contact Information
Telephone [32] (61) 31 10 60
Community Email [email protected]
Guesthouse Email [email protected]
Business Email [email protected]
Website www.orval.be
Superior Dom Xavier Frisque, Superior ad nutum 2024
Other Information
Juridical Status Abbey
Diocese Dioecesis Namurcensis (Namur)
OCSO Region CNE
Founded/Restored 1927
Origins
Originally 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 Immediate
Sept-Fons (jsuqu’en 1946) ; Westmalle (jusqu’en 2022); Délégué du Père Immédiat, Dom Damien Debaisieux de Scourmont
Daughter Houses
Brialmont.
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 and Sources of Income
Cheese, bread, beer, souvenirs.
Guest Facilities
60 rooms
Transportation
Gares belges : Florenville, 10 km., Marbehan, 20 km. Gares françaises : Carignan ou Montmédy, les 2 à 20 km
