The Abbey of Marche-les-Dames (or Our Lady of Vivier Abbey) was founded in 1236 as the Notre-Dame du Vivier monastery (after vivier "fish pond") on the Gelbressée stream and rebuilt in the 18th century (restored from 1875 ). In the course of the advance of the French Revolution it was dissolved in 1796, but the nuns were able to stay on site; the last died in 1856 at the age of 87. Then the abbey was consecutively inhabited by Vincentian Sisters (until 1875), by Cologne Ursulines (until 1914), by French Carmelite Sisters (1919–1965), by an old people's home and a boarding school (until 1981), by the Monastic Family of Bethlehem Mary in Heaven and Saint Bruno (until 2000), through the Canadian lay apostolate Madonna House (until 2008) and since 2014 through the priestly community Fraternité des Saints Apôtres. Several films have been shot in the facility, which has been a listed building since 1969. a. the film Sœur Sourire - The Singing Nun.
The legend: a serious but unconfirmed chronicle brings the origin of the abbey back to a group of ladies, wives of knights who went on a crusade with Godefroid de Bouillon (1095). On the advice of the Count of Namur, these ladies gather in a simple chapel in Marche-sur-Meuse, which they quickly converted into an adequate church. For two years they prayed for the victorious return of their husbands. At the end of the crusade (1099), those whose husbands did not return settled down, hence the name - Marche-les-Dames - and founded the first monastery there. The foundation has been generously endowed by the Knights of Godefroid as thanks to the Virgin Mary for her victorious return home. The monastery church was consecrated in 1103, the date that marked the official founding of the abbey.