VILLERS-LA-VILLE ABBEY
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Abbey Villers-la-Ville with a medicinal plant garden, different botanical gardens and plant species
History. In 1146, members of the Cistercian community of Clairvaux arrived in Villers to found a new abbey. Thanks to an ingenious hydraulic system, the monks developed this marshy, enclosed area. The system consisted of underground pipes, mills and ponds. Nestled in a valley bordered by woods and meadows, the vast cloister forms the heart of the abbey. Around it are the main buildings designed for prayer and meditation (church, chapels), but also for more laborious activities (mill, farm, etc.). The abbey, which reflects all the architectural styles that succeeded one another in these regions until the 18th century, was plundered in 1794, and the monks left in 1796. It gradually acquired its present-day atmosphere of overgrown ruins.
Visit. We highly recommend a visit to the medicinal plant garden in the heart of the abbey ruins, which is well worth the detour, and to the five botanical gardens with different themes. An augmented reality tour on an interactive tablet is now available for those interested in the plant species planted here. A store selling local produce is also open on site at the same times as the abbey. This immense site is also animated by numerous events throughout the year: themed guided tours, open-air concerts, exhibitions, theater... The program is particularly full!
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