Aulne Abbey, Charleroi, Belgium, April 2018

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HughieD

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1. The History
Aulne Abbey was a Cistercian monastery between Thuin and Landelies on the Sambre in the Bishopric of Liège in Belgium. Originally ia Benedictine monastery, it was founded by Saint Landelinus around 637. Before 974 the Benedictines were replaced by secular clerics leading a common life, who, however, embraced the Rule of St. Augustine in 1144.

At the instance of Henry de Leyen, Bishop of Liège, it came into the hands of Cistercian monks from Clairvaux in 1147, under Franco de Morvaux as its first Cistercian abbot. From that time onwards it flourished as a Cistercian monastery.

The Abbaye d’Aulne alternated between periods of splendour and decadence until 1794, when it was badly damaged by French revolutionary troops who burned it. The library, which contained 40,000 books and 5,000 manuscripts, was also destroyed. In 1859 when the last monk died, the Monastery was abandoned and turned into a hospice. In 2006, the Abbey became property of Wallonia as a historic monument.

2. The Explore
While the lion’s share of the monastery is open to the public, a large swathe is not and in a derelict state. There are also a number of outlaying sites that are also too in a state of disrepair. All-in-all plenty to see here and a very enjoyable half hour mooch.

3. The Pictures

The main abbey:

41540023401_3db55f3862_b.jpgimg6830 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The old part of the monastery not open to the public:

40828203794_7b53730398_b.jpgimg6842 by HughieDW, on Flickr

41540028441_0f6522e4b2_b.jpgimg6828 by HughieDW, on Flickr

41499092002_0d0638ba17_b.jpgimg6838 by HughieDW, on Flickr

27670123848_dd9340f777_b.jpgimg6837 by HughieDW, on Flickr

27670127868_a6e3775aef_b.jpgimg6836 by HughieDW, on Flickr

41499106862_0cfd84cf1a_b.jpgimg6831 by HughieDW, on Flickr

26670940317_f44fec3ecc_b.jpgimg6826 by HughieDW, on Flickr

39731099330_0d9f4737e8_b.jpgimg6825 by HughieDW, on Flickr

41540036221_b2e7e7a22c_b.jpgimg6824 by HughieDW, on Flickr

41540038991_1dac203baa_b.jpgimg6823 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40646915275_03ffd900f7_b.jpgimg6809 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40828268814_2f9e7723eb_b.jpgimg6808 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40646917485_dc1b069c6b_b.jpgimg6807 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40646918855_ea7ed8e12c_b.jpgimg6805 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40646920355_c88fafe555_b.jpgimg6803 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40646921065_5ce3f5ca9c_b.jpgimg6801 by HughieDW, on Flickr

26670985717_40bb90be33_b.jpgimg6800 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The nearby mill house:

40646882075_54387743c3_b.jpgimg6832 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40646911925_52e200093b_b.jpgimg6814 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40828264784_53ea321f82_b.jpgimg6813 by HughieDW, on Flickr

..and mill wheel:

40646878765_68e5d1f91c_b.jpgimg6835 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And another house nearby:

41540041941_1591fb6dae_b.jpgimg6821 by HughieDW, on Flickr

41540044191_f488b07e6a_b.jpgimg6819 by HughieDW, on Flickr

39731109720_894cd303d8_b.jpgimg6818 by HughieDW, on Flickr

41540049921_0c9cca29f5_b.jpgimg6817 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40828256484_edbee97a34_b.jpgimg6816 by HughieDW, on Flickr

39731119250_ffb6a2f2b4_b.jpgimg6815 by HughieDW, on Flickr
 
I don't think I've ever seen a red brick monastery before, seems really odd to me!

Yes, it's a bit of a bugger when you don't have good quality stone that can be quarried - nearest good quality stuff isn't even Belgian - Caen in France. But then they did have plenty of clay! The dissolution of the Monasteries put paid to the introduction of brickwork in this class of building in England. There are examples of Tudor brickwork in other types of buildings in England that are just superb.
 

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