Villers Abbey

Villers Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in the Wezembeek-Oppem municipality of Wallonia, Belgium, situated near the town of Villers-la-Ville. It was founded in 1120 as a Cistercian abbey and is one of the best preserved monastic sites in Europe. The church, Chapter House, cloister, and other buildings still stand, although over the centuries some of them have deteriorated or been destroyed, only to be rebuilt or restored during the 19th century. Many of the buildings still contain 17th century frescoes, and the visitor center inside the abbey is the site of a major archaeological excavation. During the summer months, the abbey is open to the public and is a popular tourist attraction in Belgium.