Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Wallonie

Villers Abbey Mill

Wallonie

Villers Abbey Mill

Highlight • Historical Site

Villers Abbey Mill

Recommended by 354 hikers out of 364

Save

Location: Villers-La-Ville, Nivelles, Walloon Brabant, Wallonie, Wallonia, Belgium

Save

See hikes here

Take Me There

Routes here

Best Hikes to Villers Abbey Mill

4.4

(236)

1,131

hikers

1. In the forest to the Villers-la-Ville abbey ruins

9.67km

02:41

180m

170m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Moderate

4.6

(102)

372

hikers

2. Villers Abbey Mill – Villers-la-Ville Abbey loop from La Roche

8.85km

02:25

130m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Moderate

4.2

(42)

258

hikers

3. Moulin de l'Abbaye de Villers – Villers Abbey loop from Tangissart

5.51km

01:34

130m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Easy

Tips

Jeff S

July 28, 2024

Just look behind this water mill, due to the attraction of the large ruins...

Translated by Google •

Willem VS

February 22, 2021

"The Villers-la-Ville abbey mill dates from the 12th and 13th centuries, but the facades have been modified considerably since the 17th century, especially in the 19th century when they were improved.
In 1645, the mill was partially destroyed by a terrible storm that caused great damage to the other buildings of the abbey (cloister, wall ...).
In 1797 the abbey estate (30 ha) was sold in three lots: the abbey, the mill and the farm.
The mill and the ruins of the abbey were expropriated by the Belgian State in 1892, restorations have been carried out and the ruins are open to visitors.
The north wing of the old mill became a restaurant after a fire in 1953.
In 2014, work was underway to establish a “Visitors Center” in the ruins of the abbey in the south wing of the mill. This work, co-financed by the Walloon Region and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), goes hand in hand with the landscaping of the surrounding areas in view of their tourist development. From this center, a pedestrian bridge will lead visitors from 2015 to the hill behind the Saint Bernard chapel from where they will have a global view of the abbey, before joining them via another pedestrian bridge at the level of the arcades of the old pharmacy of the abbey of Villers-la-Ville damaged in November 2013.
In addition, in 2017 a paddlewheel was installed on the Thyle at the back of the mill to produce electricity.

Translated by Google •

Viviane

May 12, 2025

The mill was built in the 13th century. Part of the building housed the abbey bakery. At the beginning of the 14th century, it delivered more than 2,000 loaves of brown bread every week, intended for the poor who presented themselves at the porter's lodge. Hydraulic wheels operated the millstones for grinding wheat and barley, but also for sawing wood and pressing oil. In the 19th century, the mill-bakery was transformed into a hotel: the Hôtel des Ruines. Victor Hugo stayed there several times.

Translated by Google •

In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

Details

Informations

Elevation 150 m

Weather

Thursday 11 December

11°C

7°C

0 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Villers-La-Ville, Nivelles, Walloon Brabant, Wallonie, Wallonia, Belgium

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Villers Abbey

Thyle Riverside Path

À travers une belle forêt

Villers Abbey Ruins

De Abdijkerk

Chapelle Sainte Apolline

Singletrack in Bois d'Hez

Chapelle du Try-au-Chêne

Narrow Path Between the Fields

View of the Forest and Fields near Court-Saint-Étienne

Bluebell Woods of Villers

Château de Bousval Vineyard

Villers Abbey Mill

1. In the forest to the Villers-la-Ville abbey ruins

2. Villers Abbey Mill – Villers-la-Ville Abbey loop from La Roche

3. Moulin de l'Abbaye de Villers – Villers Abbey loop from Tangissart

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️