Tongerlo Travel Guide

 
by ynzel
 
  •   Tongerlo
    by ynzel
  • visiting the abbey by bike
      visiting the abbey by bike
    by filipdebont
  • Tiend shed
      Tiend shed
    by filipdebont
  • Madonna surrounded by Ivy
      Madonna surrounded by Ivy
    by filipdebont
  • former work shops
      former work shops
    by filipdebont
 

Explore Tongerlo

Things to Do  

The abbot's house

The abbot's house, Tongerlo

 OlafS Says:  The abbot's house is a nice little palace built in 1728, designed by an architect Kerrickx. Back then to lead a life of poverty apparently wasn't one of the vows an abbot had to make. 

The bishop's house

The bishop's house, Tongerlo

 OlafS Says:  The bishop's house? In an abbey? Yes, that's a bit strange considering the fact that an abbey is an autonomous community that doesn't belong to a diocese. But in 1559 the abbey became, under protest, temporarily part of the diocese of 's-Hertogenbosch, and the bishop was... 

The church

The church, Tongerlo

 OlafS Says:  The church is a neo-Gothic building from 1852-1858, designed by architect P. Stoop. It replaced a Gothic church that was destroyed by the French in the late 19th century. It has a facade of natural stone while the rest is made of brick. The interior is overwhelmingly white. 

The gate

The gate, Tongerlo

 OlafS Says:  The gate was built in different periods. The lower part, with the "stripes", is in Romanesque style and dates from the 14th century. The upper part, with stepped gables, is Gothic and is from the 16th century. 

Exposition

Exposition, Tongerlo

 filipdebont Says:  Nowadays the Tiend-shed is used as a permanent exposition Hall.Inside you can see a wall filled with pictures of the Norbertines who live (and lived in this Abbey. You can also see a scaled model of the Abbey. (Picture of this model in a previous tip).You also can see an... 

Former Workshops

Former Workshops, Tongerlo

 filipdebont Says:  The workshops date from the 17th century.There is a small water tower which provides the Abbey with water.There was a wood shop, and in these buildings the famous and delicious Abbey beer was made.On the picture you can see one of the Norbertines (dressed in white), which... 

Madonna Statue

Madonna Statue, Tongerlo

 filipdebont Says:  The wall near the entrance of the shed (1618) is almost completely covered with ivy. And in the middle of this green wall, you can see a beautiful Madonna statue.So at the east house front, you can see a beautiful white Madonna, made in Avesnes stone. It dates from 1422. 

Wooden Roof construction

Wooden Roof construction, Tongerlo

 filipdebont Says:  The Tiend-shed or Boerenkrijg-shed (war of the farmers) was built in 1618.This shed is built in a brick and sand stone style. It was restored in 1993 - 94.Nowadays it is used as a permanent exposition hall.There is no entrance fee. If you enter, do not forget to look up,... 

Tiend - Shed

Tiend - Shed, Tongerlo

 filipdebont Says:  Almost in the middle of the courtyard, you can see a small shed, the Tiend-shed. This shed is built in 1618 (under Abbot A. Stalpaerts (1608 - 29). It was used as a grain shed.This shed is also named the Boerenkrijgschuur (the farmer's war shed) as this shed was used by the... 

Church of Our Lady

Church of Our Lady, Tongerlo

 filipdebont Says:  The Church of the Abbey of Tongerlo is built in 1851 - 1858 and is designed by the Antwerp architect Paul Stoop.It is built in a neo-gothic style. The tower is 75 m height, and was rebuilt in 1929 by architect Lamy, after a fire.When I visited the Abbey of Tongerlo, there... 

Bishop's House

Bishop's House, Tongerlo

 filipdebont Says:  Next to the Abbots House you can see the Bishop's House.It was built by Rombout Keldermans in 1547 in a Flemish Renaissance style.They used Brabant bricks to build it and the building has a nice small tower.It was the lodging place for the bishops of 's-Hertogenbos.Nowadays... 

Blazon at the Abbots House

Blazon at the Abbots House, Tongerlo

 filipdebont Says:  The abbots House was built in 1725 and is made of Gobertange stones.It was Abbot J. van der Achten who gave the order to build this beautiful building.In the triangle fronton you can see a blazon. It is the blazon and the slogan of Abbot J. van der Achten.This prelate... 

Abbots House

Abbots House, Tongerlo

 filipdebont Says:  The first building you see on the right hand side is the Abbots House. It dates from 1724.It is built in a classical baroque style and is designed by Willem Ignatius Kerrickx.Via the entrance gate of the Abbots House you can go to the Abbots garden and the Da Vinci Museum.... 

Big Courtyard

Big Courtyard, Tongerlo

 filipdebont Says:  Once you have passed the entrance gate, you have a great overview over the big courtyard.Starting on the right you see the Abbots house with the Abbot's garden and the Da Vinci museum. Next to the abbot’s house, you see the Bishops house, then the Abbey Church. Central you... 

Transportation  

Visiting a region by bike

Visiting a region by bike, Tongerlo

 filipdebont Says:  When the weather is good, the best way to visit a region is by bike.Of course it is a bit of a disadvantage that on this race bike, I am wearing special shoes with a click-system. And because of this click-system it is not so easy to walk.But whenever you see something... 

Shopping  

What about the beer?

What about the beer?, Tongerlo

 OlafS Says:  As I said, the Tongerlo beer is not made in the abbey. It's a product of the Haacht brewery that uses a recipe that blongs to the abbey. You can buy the beer at the abbey to support it, but it's for sale in beershops in much, if not all, of Belgium. To be frank I can't say... 

De Oude Linden (The Old Lime Trees): Abbey Book Shop

De Oude Linden (The Old Lime Trees): Abbey Book Shop, Tongerlo

 filipdebont Says:  The old Coach House dates from the 17th century, and is completely restored and used since 1999 as a bookshop.De Oude Linden (name of the shop) is now the Abbey book shop and the Centre for priesthood and liturgy. Books for Children and Adults (fiction, non-fiction, art,... 

De Oude Hoeve (the old farm): The Abbey Shop

De Oude Hoeve (the old farm): The Abbey Shop, Tongerlo

 filipdebont Says:  The Abbey farm in the Abbey of Tongerlo dates from 1640 (under Abbot D. Verbraeken). The former sheep-shed and the cow stables are now used as the abbey shop. They named it - De Oude Hoeve - (the old farm). It was used as a farm till 1974; nowadays it is a shop and a... 

Favorites  

Tongerlo Abbey beer

Tongerlo Abbey beer, Tongerlo

 filipdebont Says:  My favourite thing about Tongerlo . . . . . without doubt : the delicious Abbey beer.This beer is one of the real Belgium Abbey beers. For many years this beer was brewed here in the Abbey of Tongerlo.But since a few years, this Abbey beer is brewed in the breweries of... 

Along beautiful roads

Along beautiful roads, Tongerlo

 filipdebont Says:  Because of the weather I decided to do the 110 km roundtrip.This 110 km trip passed via the Abbeys of Tongerlo and Averbode.Journey:- Start in Heppen (near Leopoldsburg)- Oostham (3 km)- Winkelomheide (28 km)- Abbey of Tongerlo (40 km)- Zammel (44 km)- Abbey of Averbode (52... 

The Place

Plan a Tongerlo vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Tongerlo locals

Experience Tongerlo
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The People

 
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 The abbot's house is a nice little palace built in 1728, designed by an architect Kerrickx. Back then to lead a life of poverty apparently wasn't one of the... 

 

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Top 3 Tongerlo Writers

1

Abbey of Tongerlo by bike

filipdebont profile photo

  In July I went to Heppen, a small village near Leopoldsburg (Limburg). The Local cycling Club, V.W. Heppen organised their annual Abbey trip. I had heard from friends that this was a very... 

2

Tongerlo

OlafS profile photo

 Not so long ago Tongerlo meant little more to me than the name of a brand of beer. I knew it was also the name of an abbey, but what did I know about that. Until one day me and my wife passed it, on... 

3

Abdij Tongerlo

ynzel profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in Tongerlo. I'd love to share with you the 0 tips I've written, the 3 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created. 

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