Saint Remy Abbey

Description

Nearby the imposing stone flower-pots in Saint Remy marble, you can see the new church which was built in 1991, on the exact location of the former church. Approximately 350 tons of stone were necessary for its construction.
It took over two years to build the new church and the building works were financed by the excess profit generated by the production of the famed ‘Trappiste de Rochefort’ beer.
The first church was built in a neo-Gothic style, while this church was built in a neo-Romanesque style while preserving the original aspect of the church.
We recommend you take a closer look at :
• the stained-glass windows that are made out of Spanish alabaster (a white translucent rock) ;
• the three double entrance doors (which were absent from the old church) were made by the Renard gentlemen, sculptors from Rochefort;
• the church forecourt built in French limestone;
• the staircase – which is also built in French limestone – that descends into a garden with boxwood shrubs and a decorative fountain. The coins at the bottom of the fountain are of no particular significance.
The church exudes a peaceful and welcoming atmosphere feeling and its incomparable luminosity is the result of the exceptionally pure stones that were used for its construction.
The monks still toll the bells by hand. The abbey is not open to the public.