Villers-devant-Orval Travel Guide

 globetrotter_2006 Says:  Once you have existed the Museum, and you are on your way out of the Ruins, you will come upon the natural herb farmacy where the monks cultivated a viriety of herbs for medicinal purposes. 

 globetrotter_2006 Says:  The entrance to the ruins also gives you access to the elaborate museum located within the basement of the main Church. 

 globetrotter_2006 Says:  Next to the Church ruins you will find the Cloister ruins. The Cloister ussually consist of a couryard, with four corridors. Many activities took place withing the Cloister. 

 globetrotter_2006 Says:  Make sure you take time to check out the 18th century ruins of the Church which is located next to Fountain. 

 globetrotter_2006 Says:  The name Orval and the logo with the fish refer to the legend of the Mathilde fountain. During a visit of the abbey by Mathilde of Tuscany in the 11th century, she lost her golden wedding ring. She invoked the help of Our Lady and soon after a trout appeared carrying the... 

 globetrotter_2006 Says:  Make sure you take the time to walk through the 18th century ruins of the original monastery. Entrance allows gives you access to a 20 minute audiovisual play of the past & present life in the monastery. 

 globetrotter_2006 Says:  The Orval brewery is not open to the public, but you may buy their beer at the gift store next to the gatehouse. Their beer is also sold internationally, but be ready to pay a significant amount of money outside of Belgium. 

 globetrotter_2006 Says:  The monastery's main courtyard is simply amazing. It connects everything together. From here you can see the ruins, the guesthouse, the gatehouse, the kitchen, and the main church. 

 globetrotter_2006 Says:  This was my favorite garden, the rock garden next to the private rooms. It remind me of a Japanese rockgarden. Great place to reflect & relax. 

 globetrotter_2006 Says:  Within the guesthouse you will find several gardens. This is the flowere garden witch is located between the private bedrooms and the guesthouse entrance. These gardens are prefect for reading and relaxation. 

 globetrotter_2006 Says:  Next to the reading room you will find the Kitchen and Dinning room. There is three meals a day; breakfast, lunch and dinner. Don't expect anything too fancy, simply meat and potatoes or cheese with cold cuts of meat. Beer is also provided. 

 globetrotter_2006 Says:  Once you have checked in with the Guest-Master Brother, and placed your luggage away in your private room, you will be able to walk around the property & read in quiet rooms such as this on located next to the dinning room. 

 globetrotter_2006 Says:  The courthouse between the Gatehouse and the Guesthouse is gorgeous. It has a magnificent fountain, and the wooden doors have incredible carvings. 

 globetrotter_2006 Says:  Once you have enter the monastery through the Gatehouse, you will be able to purchase tickets to the ruins and the museum. If you have made arrangements to stay at the guesthouse, you will have to tell the person working at the gatehouse that you are on your way to the... 

 globetrotter_2006 Says:  The monastery's main entrance is right through the Gatehouse. From here you can make your way to the ruins, museum, guest house, and to the church to attend prayers or mass. 

 globetrotter_2006 Says:  The guesthouse at the Orval Monastery is simple, and accomodating. Each indiviual gets its own room. The bathrooms are located at the end of the hall. Its costs about 30 Euros, and it includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Dormitory doors close at 10pm. 

 globetrotter_2006 Says:  The monastery store is located through the gatehouse on the way to the ruins entrance. Here you can buy all kinds of Trappist and religious items. Books, Beer, Cheese, Postcards, etc.