1247Founded by Ermesinde of Luxembourg
1933-34Installation in Cordemois (Bouillon)
1930-35Henri Vaes Architect Plans
July 2024Canonical Agreement – Cordemois Abbey born
55 mÉpine Footbridge (Douglas wood)
CramiquesFlagship product – sold out by Friday opening

Comital necropolis · Cistercian resilience · Semois meander

Eight centuries of spiritual continuity

The Notre-Dame de Cordemois Abbey is the direct heir to the Clairefontaine Abbey, founded in 1247 by Countess Ermesinde of Luxembourg. For a century, this site served as a necropolis for the Luxembourg comital family — ensuring Cistercian spiritual protection for the dynasty. Suppressed by the French Revolution (1794-1796), the tradition survived in France before resettling in this Ardennes meander in 1933-1934.

The resurrection of Cordemois is part of the great Belgian monastic renewal movement led by Dom Marie-Albert van der Cruyssen — the same restorer who breathed life into Orval Abbey. The nuns, coming from La Cour Pétral (Diocese of Chartres), chose this site for its geographical solitude, meeting the Cistercian ideal of withdrawal from the world in a preserved natural setting.

"Cordemois Abbey represents much more than an architectural or tourist curiosity. It is the result of a stubborn desire to maintain a spiritual presence in a changing world."
⛩️ Cistercian · 13th c. 🏗️ Henri Vaes 1876-1945 🎨 Géo De Vlamynck Stained Glass 1933 ⚖️ Canonical Agreement 2024 🥐 Cramiques & craquelins 🌉 Poulie Bridge 1935 🛶 Visible from kayak

📋 Practical Information

📍 Location Cordemois – Bouillon, Province of Luxembourg, BE
🗓️ Foundation 1247 (Clairefontaine) · Cordemois: 1933-1934
🏗️ Architect Henri Vaes (1876-1945) – plans 1930-1935
⚖️ Status 2024 Autonomous Abbey – Diocese of Namur
🛍️ Shop Tue-Sun 2 PM - 5:30 PM (Mar-Oct) · Wed-Sun 2 PM - 4:30 PM (Nov-Feb)
🕰️ Public Vespers Every evening at 6 PM (chanted)
💶 Entry Free (exteriors and church)
🛶 From kayak Visible – Poupehan → Alle route (10km)

Photographic Documentation

Cordemois Abbey – Gallery

Notre-Dame de Cordemois Abbey in the Semois meander – Henri Vaes facade (1930-1935)
Notre-Dame de Cordemois Abbey in the Semois meander – Henri Vaes facade (1930-1935)
Outer cloister of Cordemois Abbey – contemporary frescoes (Jan Huet, Marcel Laforêt)
Outer cloister of Cordemois Abbey – contemporary frescoes (Jan Huet, Marcel Laforêt)
Cordemois Abbey Church – stained glass by Géo De Vlamynck (1933) and Yoors
Cordemois Abbey Church – stained glass by Géo De Vlamynck (1933) and Yoors
Poulie Bridge (1935) in schist – view of Bouillon Castle from the bridge
Poulie Bridge (1935) in schist – view of Bouillon Castle from the bridge
Artisanal biscuit factory of Cordemois Abbey – cramiques, craquelins, and butter biscuits
Artisanal biscuit factory of Cordemois Abbey – cramiques, craquelins, and butter biscuits
Épine Footbridge – 55-meter suspension structure over the Semois near Cordemois
Épine Footbridge – 55-meter suspension structure over the Semois near Cordemois

📜 From Clairefontaine to Cordemois · 1247–2024

Cistercian History: An Unbroken Lineage Since Ermesinde

Understanding Cordemois Abbey requires going back to the 13th century in Luxembourg territory. It is there that the spiritual tradition takes root, still nourishing this Ardennes meander today.

1247–1253

Foundation by Countess Ermesinde of Luxembourg

The abbey — initially named Beaulieu, then Clairefontaine in 1253 — was founded near Arlon, attached to the Cistercian order under the jurisdiction of Clairvaux. Its primary role: serving as a necropolis for the Luxembourg comital family. For a century, Ermesinde's descendants were buried there, ensuring a symbiosis between temporal power and spiritual protection.

Cistercian comital necropolis

15th–17th century

Decline and successive reconstructions

Periods of disciplinary decline in the 15th century, ravages of the Thirty Years' War. But every destruction was followed by reconstruction and renewed fervor, particularly in the 18th century, showcasing Cistercian resilience in the face of historical trials.

Cycles of decline and renewal

1794–1796

The French Revolutionary Fire

French revolutionary troops burned and suppressed the abbey. Monastic life in Arlon ended abruptly. The spiritual lineage did not vanish: nuns preserved the tradition in France.

End of monastic life in Arlon

1845

Foundation of La Cour Pétral (France)

The lineage's continuity was ensured by a foundation in the Diocese of Chartres. The female Cistercian tradition of Clairefontaine was preserved outside Belgium for nearly a century, awaiting the right conditions to return to Ardennes soil.

Preservation of spiritual lineage

1933–1934

Installation in Cordemois – Dom Marie-Albert van der Cruyssen

The return to Belgium was part of the great monastic renewal movement led by Dom Marie-Albert van der Cruyssen, restorer of Orval Abbey. Nuns from La Cour Pétral chose Cordemois for its geographical solitude in the Semois meander. The Clairefontaine title was revived.

Renewal – Dom van der Cruyssen

1930–1935

Henri Vaes designs the monastic complex

Antwerp architect Henri Vaes (1876-1945) created the plans between 1930 and 1935. Reinforced concrete was hoisted over the Semois. The hillside location dictated vertical organization around a square cloister. At the same time, the schist Poulie Bridge was built.

Concrete + Ardennes schist architecture

2016

The OCSO announces closure

The Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance (OCSO) announced the official closure of the abbey, citing insurmountable internal tensions. This sparked an 8-year period of uncertainty, legal procedures, and the resistance of 6 sisters refusing to leave.

8 years of procedures

July 2024

Historic agreement – birth of Cordemois Abbey

An amicable agreement was reached with the Holy See. The 6 remaining sisters could continue their monastic life. The institution took the name Cordemois Abbey, left the OCSO, and came under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Namur. A new chapter begins.

Canonical autonomy – Diocese of Namur

Condensed Chronology

PeriodEventImpact
1247-1253 Ermesinde Foundation Luxembourg comital necropolis
1253 Clairefontaine renamed Attachment to Cîteaux/Clairvaux
1794-1796 Revolutionary fire End of monastic life in Arlon
1845 La Cour Pétral (France) Preservation of the lineage
1933-1934 Installation in Cordemois Clairefontaine title revived
1930-1935 Henri Vaes plans Reinforced concrete + Ardennes schist
1933 Géo De Vlamynck glass Bell tower frescoes + stained glass
2016 OCSO closure announced 8 years of resistance by the sisters
2024 Canonical agreement Cordemois Abbey – Diocese of Namur

Sources: Wikipedia · CathoBel · guides.archi · arlon-clairefontaine.com

🏗️ Henri Vaes (1876-1945) · Laboratory of Cistercian modernity

Architecture: Concrete in the Service of Prayer

Cordemois served as the precursor and test model for Orval — Henri Vaes' most famous project. The Antwerp architect deployed a vision where reinforced concrete, a modern material, serves a Middle Ages-inspired aesthetic without ever falling into pastiche. The concrete was literally hoisted over the Semois to reach the hillside.

ElementMaterialAesthetic Effect
Structure Reinforced concrete (winched over the Semois) Technical modernity and solidity
Exterior Cladding Light plaster and regional schist Landscape integration and sobriety
Carpentry Wenge wood Warmth and contrast with the white
Interior Details Black ceramics and dark stones Highlighting corners and openings
Neo-Gothic Arches Shaped concrete Symbolism: joined hands in prayer
"The neo-gothic pointed arches symbolize hands joined in prayer — transforming the load-bearing structure into a permanent liturgical gesture."
— Henri Vaes, architect of Cordemois and Orval

🎨 Integrated Art: Stained Glass and Frescoes

The abbey is not just a concrete structure. It is inhabited by the works of major interwar artists. A true iconographic journey leads the visitor from the outer cloister to the heart of the church.

🎨 Stained Glass – Abbey Church

Yoors, Colpaert, Jacques de Géradon, and Géo De Vlamynck. Playing with light to define sacred spaces.

🖼️ Frescoes & Glass – Bell Tower

Géo De Vlamynck (1933): wall fresco + bell tower stained glass. First defining intervention in the "modern" aesthetic of the complex.

🌿 Frescoes – Outer Cloister

Jan Huet, Marcel Laforêt, Irène Vander Linden, and Guillemine Capart-Vaes. Iconographic path preparing the entrance to the sanctuary.

⛪ Spatial Organization

Square cloister in the center · Ground floor partially buried (slope) · First floor: vital monastic functions

Cordemois Abbey Church – stained glass by Géo De Vlamynck (1933)

⚖️ 2016–2024 · 8 years of resistance · July 2024 Agreement

Institutional Crisis and the Historic 2024 Agreement

In 2016, the OCSO announced the closure of the abbey. Six sisters refused to leave. After 8 years of legal proceedings, an unprecedented agreement was reached in July 2024 — creating a unique new canonical entity in Belgium.

The July 2024 Agreement – 3 Fundamental Pillars

After eight years of uncertainty and procedures, this amicable agreement resolves the difficulties born from the announced 2016 closure. It allows the six remaining sisters to continue their life of prayer and work within the walls they refused to abandon.

1

Name Change

The canonical entity "Notre-Dame de Clairefontaine Abbey" is permanently removed. The institution officially becomes "Cordemois Abbey", managed by a new namesake NPO.

2

Institutional Break from the OCSO

The nuns officially leave the fold of the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance. They retain their religious status, thus escaping the reduction to the lay state that threatened them for disobedience. Financial assets are shared equally with monasteries that welcomed sisters who left after 2017.

3

Autonomous Diocesan Status

The community is now under the direct responsibility of the Bishopric of Namur. A new definitive status will be established by Bishop Pierre Warin's successor, rooting the nuns in an unprecedented local autonomy.

Outer cloister of Cordemois Abbey – contemporary frescoes

🙏 The Rule of Saint Benedict, Nonetheless

Despite the changes in oversight, daily life in Cordemois remains governed by the Rule of Saint Benedict. The balance between communal prayer, silence, and manual labor is maintained. The chanted liturgy remains open to the public.

"Humility, truth, and simplicity remain values capable of crossing centuries and institutional crises."

🕰️ Rule of Saint Benedict · Communal Prayer · Spiritual Retreats

Monastic Life and Services Open to the Public

Divine Office Hours

Service / ActivityTimeCharacteristics
Vigils 05:00 Sundays and solemnities
Lauds 07:00 Dawn prayer 🌍 Public Welcome
Eucharist 08:45 / 11:00 Weekdays 8:45 AM · Sunday 10:30 or 11:00 AM 🌍 Public Welcome
None 14:45 Afternoon prayer
Vespers 18:00 🎵 Evening service – often chanted · Recommended 🌍 Public Welcome
Compline 20:00 Prayer before the great night silence

Indicative hours – check the abbey website before your visit

🕊️ Spiritual Retreats

The abbey offers spiritual retreats for individuals or groups. Guests share the monastery's climate of silence for restorative stays. Meals are taken in silence, fostering introspection and listening to the Word of God. Recollection cycles, concerts, and sacred art workshops are scheduled for 2026-2027.

🥐 The Bakery and Monastic Shop

In accordance with Cistercian tradition, the nuns support themselves through the fruit of their labor. The artisanal bakery is the most iconic activity.

🥐

Cramique

Raisin brioche bread. Absolute star — sells out upon opening on Fridays. Arrive early!

Artisanal Bakery
🍞

Craquelin

Sugar brioche bread. Complementary variant to the cramique. Limited production.

Artisanal Bakery
🍪

Butter Biscuits

Varied range of dry and shortbread biscuits following traditional recipes passed down by the community.

Biscuit Factory
🍰

Artisanal Cakes

Apple, almond, or fruit cakes depending on the season and availability.

Pastry
🏺

Ceramics

Ceramic objects made by the community. Unique artisanal pieces.

Monastic Art
🎨

Silk Paintings

Artistic creations by the sisters. Also: Trappist beers, cheeses, religious bookstore from other European abbeys.

Monastic Art

🕒 Monastic Shop Hours

🌸 March → October Tuesday – Sunday
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM (weekdays)
2:00 PM – 5:30 PM (weekend)
❄️ November → February Wednesday – Sunday
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM / 4:30 PM
Closed on Tuesdays

💡 Tip: arrive early on Fridays for cramiques and craquelins — they go fast.

🌉 Poulie Bridge · Épine Footbridge · Semois Meander

Civil Engineering and the Dialogue with the River

The abbey is inseparable from its landscape. Nestled in a "sea of green," it establishes a constant dialogue between the architecture of concrete and stone and the lively waters of the Semois.

Poulie Bridge (1935) – schist arches with view of Bouillon Castle

🌉 Poulie Bridge (Cordemoys Bridge) · 1935

Built in 1935 simultaneously with the monastery by Henri Vaes using local schist, this bridge with elegant arches has become a must-see photography spot. Its location offers a clear view of the Bouillon Castle. It constitutes the symbolic entry point to the abbey from the town. For kayakers navigating the Semois from Poupehan, it is one of the first architectural landmarks visible from the river.

Épine Footbridge – 55 meters in Douglas wood and metal over the Semois

🌿 Épine Footbridge · 55 meters

Suspension structure of 55 meters long in Douglas wood and metal connecting the two banks of the Semois near Cordemois. It provides access to steep trails leading to the famous panoramas of the Ardennes ridges. The Épine Footbridge is a highlight of the Cordemois and Belvedere Circuit (7 km) and the Hanged Man's Rock hike (~15 km).

🛶 Cordemois Abbey seen from a kayak

The abbey is nestled in a meander of the Semois between Poupehan and Alle-sur-Semois. During the Poupehan → Alle kayak route (10 km, 2h-3h), it appears at the exit of a bend — the white facade of light plaster contrasts with the dark Ardennes forest. The bells ring the hours — from the river, it's a sound of exceptional softness in the silence of the valley.

🛶 Book the Poupehan → Alle route →

🥾 3 hiking trails · Bouillon · Cordemois · Belvedere

Hikes around Cordemois Abbey

The abbey is the anchor point for several walking routes through centuries-old Douglas fir forests and panoramas over the Semois meanders. It can be the destination or the starting point.

8.3 km

BN Walk n°41 – Along the Semois

Red rectangle · ~2h30 · Easy

Departure from the Porte de France in Bouillon. Follows the Semois to reach the abbey. Crosses the Poulie Bridge (schist, 1935) with a view of the castle. Ideal for a first cultural approach to Cordemois from the river path.

📍 Departure: Porte de France, Bouillon
7 km

Cordemois and Belvedere Circuit

~2h30 · Intermediate · Ascent

Loop passing through centuries-old Douglas fir forests. Climb to the belvedere for a breathtaking view of the town of Bouillon and the Semois meanders. Crosses the Épine Footbridge (55m) in Douglas wood and metal.

📍 Departure: Bouillon Center or Cordemois
~15 km

The Hanged Man's Rock and the Augustinians

Athletic · Full Day

Long hike connecting Corbion and Bouillon. Passes by the Cordemois Bridge and the Épine Footbridge. Panoramas over the Ardennes meanders from the Hanged Man's Rock. Reserved for experienced hikers with good physical condition.

📍 Departure: Corbion (departure)

Practical Guide – How to organize your visit

1

Reach Cordemois from Bouillon

From Bouillon (~1.5 km), cross the Poulie Bridge (schist arches, 1935). This is your first photo stop with a clear view of the castle. By car, parking is possible before the abbey. On foot from the Porte de France: start of the BN n°41 walk (red rectangle).

2

Observe the outer cloister and church

Free access to the exteriors. Observe the frescoes of the outer cloister (Jan Huet, Marcel Laforêt, Irène Vander Linden, Guillemine Capart-Vaes). In the church: stained glass by Géo De Vlamynck (1933) and works by Yoors, Colpaert, Jacques de Géradon. Vaes' neo-gothic concrete arches symbolize hands joined in prayer.

3

Attend a liturgical service

The Vespers (6 PM) are highly recommended — chanted, open to the public. The Sunday Eucharist (10:30-11 AM) is the most accessible service. Respect the silence and appropriate dress required on the premises.

4

Visit the monastic shop

Arrive early on Fridays for cramiques and craquelins — they sell out quickly. Mar-Oct: Tue-Sun 2 PM - 5:30 PM. Nov-Feb: Wed-Sun 2 PM - 4:30 PM. Don't miss the artisanal ceramics and silk paintings.

5

Follow up with a hike

The Cordemois and Belvedere Circuit (7km, ~2h30) is the best extension: centuries-old Douglas fir forests, Épine Footbridge (55m), panoramic view of Bouillon from the belvedere.

Artisanal biscuit factory of Cordemois Abbey – monastic products

🗺️ Combine with

🏰
/chateau-bouillon Medieval fortress of Godfrey of Bouillon (11th c.) – 2 km
🛶
/Descente-semois-kayak See the abbey from the river – 10 km, 2h
🌿
/herbeumont Free castle 24/7 – 20 km from Cordemois
📖
/encyclopedie-semois Flora, fauna, and heritage of the valley

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ – Cordemois Abbey

What is the history of Cordemois Abbey?

Cordemois Abbey is the spiritual successor to Clairefontaine Abbey, founded in 1247 by Countess Ermesinde of Luxembourg near Arlon. This abbey served as a necropolis for the Luxembourg comital family. After the French revolutionary fire of 1794-1796, the tradition survived in France before the nuns settled in Cordemois in 1933-1934, spearheaded by Dom Marie-Albert van der Cruyssen, the restorer of Orval Abbey.

Who is the architect Henri Vaes and what do his pointed arches symbolize?

Henri Vaes (1876-1945) is an Antwerp architect who designed the abbey between 1930 and 1935 — Cordemois being his precursor and test model before the grand Orval project. He used reinforced concrete (hoisted over the Semois), regional schist, wenge wood, and black ceramics. The neo-gothic pointed arches symbolize hands joined in prayer, transforming the load-bearing structure into a permanent liturgical gesture.

Which artists created the stained glass and frescoes of the abbey?

Church stained glass: Yoors, Colpaert, Jacques de Géradon, and Géo De Vlamynck. The latter also created a wall fresco and bell tower stained glass in 1933. Outer cloister frescoes: Jan Huet, Marcel Laforêt, Irène Vander Linden, and Guillemine Capart-Vaes.

What happened with the July 2024 agreement?

After 8 years of resistance since the closure announced by the OCSO (2016), an agreement was reached in July 2024. Three pillars: (1) "Notre-Dame de Clairefontaine Abbey" becomes Cordemois Abbey (NPO); (2) The 6 sisters leave the OCSO but keep their religious status; (3) The community comes under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Namur.

What products do you buy at the Cordemois Abbey shop?

Cramiques (raisin brioches) and craquelins (sugar) — arrive early on Friday. Butter biscuits, shortbread, apple/almond/fruit cakes. Artisanal ceramics and silk paintings. Trappist beers, cheeses, and religious books from other abbeys. Shop open Mar-Oct: Tue-Sun 2 PM - 5:30 PM · Nov-Feb: Wed-Sun 2 PM - 4:30 PM.

What are the liturgical services open to the public?

The main services accessible to the public: Vespers at 6 PM (often chanted — not to be missed), Eucharist on weekdays (8:45 AM) and Sunday (10:30-11 AM), Lauds (7 AM), None (2:45 PM), Compline (8 PM). Vigils (5 AM) are celebrated on Sundays and solemnities.

What are the Poulie Bridge and the Épine Footbridge?

The Poulie Bridge (also Cordemoys Bridge) was built in 1935 out of schist by Henri Vaes. Clear view of Bouillon Castle — a must-see photo spot. The Épine Footbridge is a 55-meter suspension structure in Douglas wood and metal, connecting the two banks of the Semois to access the Ardennes ridge trails.

Can you see Cordemois Abbey from a kayak?

Yes. Nestled in the Semois meander between Poupehan and Alle, it is visible during the Poupehan → Alle kayak route (10 km, 2h-3h). The white facade contrasts with the Ardennes forest. The bells ring the hours — from the river, this sound is of rare softness in the silence of the valley.

Complete your visit to Bouillon

🏰 Bouillon Castle

🏰 Bouillon Castle

Medieval fortress · Godfrey · 11th century
🛶 Kayak Poupehan → Alle

🛶 Kayak Poupehan → Alle

See the abbey from the river · 10km · 2h
🌊 Semois Water Level

🌊 Semois Water Level

Live flow · Kayak practicability
📖 Semois Encyclopedia

📖 Semois Encyclopedia

Flora, fauna, and heritage of the Semois

⛩️

Experience Cordemois Abbey from the river

The Poupehan → Alle (10 km, 2h-3h) kayak route passes in front of the abbey in the Semois meander. The bells, the white reflection in the water, the Ardennes forest — a unique sensory experience. Nautical base in Vresse-sur-Semois, from 18€ all-in.

🛶 Book kayak from 18€ 🏰 Full Bouillon Guide 🏰 Bouillon Castle
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Nathalie Frédéric ✓
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Very good, cheap and very friendly welcome. Thank you, because for my first time kayaking, I love it. I recommend it. See you next time 👍🙂

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Marlène Régibo ✓
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Contrary to other published opinions, we were very well received, the team is very friendly and the kayak rental is cheaper here than elsewhere. We recommend Kayak Ardenne!

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Konrad ✓
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Fantastic campsite, affordable prices and adorable staff!

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Top, very friendly and good service. Correct prices.

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Loan ✓
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We stayed 1 night in a tent and did the 11km kayak descent. Helpful and super friendly staff. Perfect organization for arrival on the Semois and reception after the descent. Thanks for everything!

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We were able to enjoy this day thanks to the lady at the kayak bar! Without knowing it, we hadn't booked. She found a last minute solution! Top thanks again! Thanks to her and also to the drivers who brought us back.

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Arthur Pinter ✓
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Excellent kayak rental on the Semois. Different routes possible for short or long distance depending on the wish. The staff is very friendly and advises you perfectly!

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Laurie Rainbow ✓
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Magnificent canoe descent (17km), the service is very good, we wait little even at arrival thanks to the driver and his wife who willingly answer our questions and calls. In addition, the small cafe with terrace is very pleasant. The night at the campsite was perfect.