The stone arch
A stepped Neo-Romanesque entrance.
Tournasol7 — CC BY 4.0 · The original uploader was Cayambe at Luxembourgish Wikipedia. — CC BY-SA 1.0 · Rikki Mitterer — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rikki Mitterer — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Tournasol7 — CC BY 4.0
Clervaux Abbey is a Benedictine monastery on a wooded hill above the town of Clervaux, with brown stone towers and red roofs. A member of the Solesmes Congregation, it is still home to monks, and it offers a calm quite different from the town below. French Benedictines re-established their community at St Maur in 1890, but they were forced to leave France in 1901 by the anti-clerical laws of the Third Republic. They found refuge in Belgium, then in 1908 chose to found a new monastery at Clervaux. Construction began in 1909 in Neo-Romanesque style to designs by the architect Johann Franz Klomp, and the monks arrived in August 1910. The name of St Maurus was added in 1926. In January 1941 the occupying forces expelled them, and they lived in exile for a long period before returning. The church entrance stands out with its stepped stone arch and sturdy towers, along with round windows and walls of local stone. A tree-lined path beside a long stone wall leads up to it, giving views on the way over the rooftops of Clervaux and the white castle. The abbey also holds a small exhibition on monastic life and the Rule of St Benedict. The abbey lies about 600 m from Clervaux Castle and 50.2 km from Luxembourg City in a straight line. It is a working monastery, so dress modestly, speak quietly and stay out of areas reserved for monks. You may come across chanted prayer during your visit, so sit respectfully.
A stepped Neo-Romanesque entrance.
A quiet way beside a stone wall.
Rooftops and the white castle from above.
Abbey of St Maurice and St Maurus, Clervaux, Luxembourg
You can usually visit the church and exhibition, but not the monks' quarters.
The path from town is short and gently steep, and it suits most visitors.
