Maredsous Abbey

Maredsous Abbey (French: Abbaye de Maredsous) is a Benedictine monastery at Maredsous, in the municipality of Anhée, Wallonia, Belgium. It is a founding member of the Annunciation Congregation of the Benedictine Confederation. The abbey was founded as a priory on 15 November 1872 by Beuron Abbey, with the financial support of the Desclée family, who donated some land and paid for the plans and construction of the buildings which were designed by Jean-Baptiste Bethune. In 1878, the priory was raised to the status of abbey by Pope Leo XIII and became a member of the Congregation of Beuron. The abbey was subsequently affiliated with the Congregation of the Annunciation within the Benedictine confederation, from 1920. By a pontifical letter of Pope Pius XI dated 12 October 1926, the abbey church was awarded the title of minor basilica. Though various cheeses are products of the abbey's own dairy, Maredsous Beer is no longer brewed there but in the Duvel Moortgat brewery in Flanders, which has been authorised to make and supply it.