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In the small Walloon village of Saint-Jean-Sart, part of the municipality of Aubel and located near the famous Abbaye de Val-Dieu, you'll find an old traditional spring of great historical importance to the local population. Often referred to in French as Fontaine de Saint-Jean-Sart, this spring is more than just a water source. For centuries, it was where villagers drew their drinking water directly from the ground, forming a tangible link to village life in the past. The spring is located at 9 Rue de Lammerschot in Saint-Jean-Sart, a quiet street in this rural village in the province of Liège, Belgium. It is a natural outflow from the ground, where clean spring water emerges, a fact that was of great practical importance to residents before modern water supply systems existed. Today, many locals still use the spring to fill bottles with spring water. On the stones of the spring or near it, there is often an inscription or reference to the history of the village, first mentioned in sources around 1216. This demonstrates how long Saint-Jean-Sart has had a community around this spring and its church. Saint-Jean-Sart is a small village whose history is closely linked to that of Val-Dieu Abbey. The village was already mentioned in documents around the beginning of the 13th century, and the presence of a spring like this played a role in its development as a settlement. The inscription you can see at the spring, "j'ai vu naître Saint Jean-Sart 1216," symbolically emphasizes that the village was born in that year and that the spring played a central role there from the beginning. The second reason this spring is remarkable is that such public springs were once essential for daily needs, such as drinking, cooking, livestock, and other agricultural tasks. In a time without piped water or municipal water supplies, this spring served as a local meeting and living place.

A church is much more than just a building because it's a place where history, faith, architecture, and community converge. For centuries, churches have been the heart of villages and towns. Often the oldest buildings in the area, they serve as landmarks in the landscape, visible from afar thanks to their steeple or robust walls. Architecturally, churches tell the story of their time. From austere Romanesque styles with thick walls and small windows to Gothic churches with high, pointed arches and colorful stained-glass windows that let light in almost magically. Every stone arch and niche has a function and symbolism, often aimed at lifting the gaze upward, both literally and figuratively. But a church is more than just a religious symbol. It is also a place of gathering where people have gathered throughout the centuries for joyful moments such as weddings and baptisms, but also for silence and mourning. Even for those who are not religious, a church often exudes peace, contemplation, and timelessness. The silence within contrasts with the world outside and invites slowing down and reflection.

From a bench, you have a view of the tower of Val Dieu Abbey. It's nice to see two older horses roaming freely here. A long path leads you down to the abbey.

Beautiful panorama with the famous backdrop of Saint-Jean-Sart

The Saint-Jean Fountain in Saint-Jean-Sart is a historic spring that marks the origin of the village and is a popular spot for locals to collect drinking water. According to an inscription on a stone near the fountain, farmers settled here as early as 1216, coinciding with the founding of the nearby Val-Dieu Abbey. The fountain is situated in a gently rolling landscape, surrounded by orchards and woodland, and is still used by residents to fill bottles with spring water.

The Chapel of Wixhou is a Neo-Byzantine chapel dating from 1850. It stands on the site of an older chapel. The name "Wixhou" is possibly derived from the Germanic "wi-hout," meaning "sacred wood." This refers to a story from 1683 in which a woman gathering wood discovered a miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary. This statue, approximately 10 cm high, still stands in the chapel, which is therefore dedicated to Notre-Dame aux Bois-Bénits ("Our Lady of the Sacred Wood"). The chapel became a place of pilgrimage and features two coats of arms above the portal, including the coat of arms of the Argenteau family. The organ in the chapel was regularly played by the famous composer Franz Liszt, who was a guest at the nearby Château de Argenteau. The chapel is owned by the Van Zuylen family, residents of that castle. The neo-Byzantine decor and the historical ties with the Argenteau and Van Zuylen families give the chapel a special cultural value.

From this vantage point, you have a magnificent panorama of the valley and the imposing Val-Dieu Abbey rising from the greenery. The view reveals the harmony between nature and culture: rolling hills, orchards, and the centuries-old abbey complex below.