Orval Abbey
Florenville Founded in 1132
Orval Abbey is a Belgian Trappist abbey located in Lorraine, just a short distance from the French border. Founded in 1132, it is home to a community of Trappist Brothers who follow the Rule of Saint Benedict, "Ora et Labora." Their days are built around two pillars: times of sung prayer, marked by five daily offices, and times of manual work. The monks produce honey candies, cheese, and their famous Trappist beer, Orval.
True to the spirit of Saint Benedict, the community does not live turned in on itself: the monks welcome without distinction all who come to them. The guest house receives young people and adults, men and women, groups and individuals for a stay of retreat and recollection. Guests come to rest in silence, join the offices and the Eucharist, meet with a monk, or simply enjoy the calm of the monastery and the beauty of the Orval forest.
What awaits you
Upcoming retreats
Practical information
Length of stay
The guest house welcomes individuals and groups, men and women, for stays of 2 to 6 nights.
Offices
Seven offices are celebrated each day by the monks, from Vigils at 5:00 a.m. to Compline at 8:00 p.m. Guests are freely invited to join.
Groups
A dedicated chalet accommodates youth groups and families with children: a dormitory of 16 beds, four dormitories of 8 beds, studios, kitchens, and a meeting room. Groups come with their own leader.
Accommodation
Rooms with one or two beds, some equipped with a washroom. Bed sheets are provided upon request (€8); guests are advised to bring their own set of sheets.
Renewal retreats
Each summer, renewal retreat sessions are led by a brother from the community.
Getting there
The nearest train station is Florenville (10km).
180 km from Brussels, 290 km from Paris, and just 60 km from Luxembourg via the E411 highway.
Bike storage available for the more athletic among us (Eddy Merckx, here we come).