Sint-Truiden Abbey Site

The abbey site of Sint-Truiden has undergone a thorough renovation in recent years. The crypt is now open to the public and the Baroque gate has been restored. The Academy Hall with its heavenly acoustics is today one of the most beautiful halls in Belgium. The highlight of the abbey site is the sober abbey tower, the historic landmark of the city. The thousand-year-old tower ruin of the former Benedictine abbey was completely renovated after a serious fire. 196 stairs and five rest and experience platforms lead you to a breathtaking panorama of the city and the region.

Source: VisitLimburg

Sint-Truiden Abbey, also known as Sint-Trudo Abbey, is a former Benedictine abbey in the Belgian Limburg town of Sint-Truiden. Founded in the 7th century, the abbey was one of the oldest and most powerful abbeys in the Netherlands and was also the origin of the town of Sint-Truiden, which grew around the abbey. The abbey church, demolished in 1798, was a large Romanesque church dedicated to Saints Remaclus and Quintinus.

The foundation of the abbey by Trudo, son of Count Wicbolde, dates back to around 655; this foundation probably consisted of a church with a few wooden monastery buildings. The monastery was dependent on the bishop of Metz. In the 8th, early 9th century, possibly under Abbot Drogo, the order adopted the rule of Benedict. In 883 the Normans invaded Haspengouw and destroyed the church and monastery, which remained in ruins for several years. With the help of Otto I, king of the German empire, the church and monastery were reoccupied in 938 and reconstruction was started. The Ottonian church was built shortly before 964 under Abbot Adalbero I. Under Abbot Guntram (1035-1055) the construction of the abbey tower was started; the current substructure dates from this period. In 1056 Abbot Adelardus II enlarged the abbey church. After several fires and plunderings by the counts of Duras and the dukes of Leuven, who disputed the guardianship of the city, the monastery buildings were rebuilt by abbot Wiric of Staepel (1155-1180); the same abbot had a burial chapel built in the crossing of the abbey church above the graves of Saint Trudo and Saint Eucherius; the abbey had become an important place of pilgrimage due to the presence of these relics. Under abbot Wiric, the border was drawn between the area of the city that belonged to the abbey and the area that depended on the bishopric of Metz. From 1178, the abbots received papal permission to wear the mitre and the pastoral ring. In the 12th century, under abbots Rodulfus and Wiric, the monastery buildings were completed. The abbey's minting shop, which was closed around 1560, also dates from this period. Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Benedictine Abbey of Saint Trudo, id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/22701