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 👍🙂
Heritage & Culture
A brewing epic
spanning eight centuries
Nestled in the Meuse Valley in Dinant, Maison Leffe crystallizes over eight centuries of brewing history, resilience in the face of geopolitical upheavals, and commercial innovation. It is inextricably linked to the Notre-Dame de Leffe Abbey — still active today — founded in 1152 by Premonstratensian canons.
"Abbey beer was not born out of a desire for profit, but from an absolute imperative of health safety
and public salvation."
In the 13th century, epidemics of plague, cholera, and dysentery ravaged pilgrimage routes. Spring water, often contaminated, was deadly. In 1240, the Norbertine monks acquired a brewery: boiling the wort sterilized the water, turning the beer into a purified, nourishing, and safe drink. Thus the brewing tradition of Leffe was born — not out of commercial calculation, but out of a duty of hospitality.
Chronology
Key milestones
of Leffe Abbey
1152
Foundation of Notre-Dame de Leffe Abbey by Premonstratensian (Norbertine) canons. A vocation of hospitality towards pilgrims and merchants in the Meuse valley.
1240
Acquisition of a brewery from the cleric Gossuin. Beginning of monastic brewing to provide a purified drink to the abbey's guests amidst endemic epidemics.
1466
Sack of Dinant by the Burgundian troops of Charles the Bold. The abbey's archives burn down. The brewery is leased to a lay manager to finance legal costs.
1735
Forced occupation by a regiment of Hussars. Considerable damage to the brewing facilities.
1796 – 1809
The French Revolution leads to the suppression of the abbey (1796) and the exile of the canons. The brewery ceases all activity definitively in 1809.
1902
Exiled Norbertine canons from France purchase and rebuild the abbey. A community is gradually re-established.
1929
The fire at Tongerlo Abbey (Campine) forces its displaced religious members to settle permanently in Leffe, revitalizing the Dinant community.
1952
Historic agreement between Abbot Cyrille Nys and brewer Albert Lootvoet (Overijse). Revival of Leffe Brune — the first modern model of a licensed "abbey beer". Immediate and spectacular commercial success.
1990s
AB InBev takes over the commercial license and ensures global production and distribution, while paying royalties to the monastic community in Dinant.
Interactive Museum
Maison Leffe:
a sensory experience
Located in the former chapel of the Bethlehem convent, integrated into the La Merveilleuse by Infiniti Resorts hotel complex, Maison Leffe is a museum resolutely focused on immersion, touch, and taste — far removed from dusty display cases.
Digital Scenography
A dozen large-format touch screens allow visitors to browse digitized archives, watch high-quality documentaries, and dissect the biochemistry of top fermentation.
Awakening the Senses
The tour awakens all senses: aromas, textures, sounds. The "brewing secrets" are revealed: the role of hops, roasted malts, special abbey yeasts, and their characteristic esters.
Panoramic Tasting
The visit culminates on the terraces of La Merveilleuse with breathtaking views of the citadel and the Meuse. Each visitor receives a tasting of their choice and a Leffe chalice glass as a gift.
Exclusive Shop
Gift boxes, chalice glasses custom-engraved on site by sandblasting (€23.95 – €59.90), 6-bottle 33cl assortments. Products unavailable in regular retail.
Café Leffe Restaurant
Beer as a culinary ingredient: chicken strips in Leffe sauce, duck breast, thyme lamb... The menu reinvents Walloon gastronomy by making Leffe a fundamental binder.
Full Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible site. Pets allowed. Audio guides available in French, Dutch, and English. Children under 12: free entry.
Zythology
The Leffe Range —
12 varieties, one heritage
Since the resurrection of Leffe Brune in 1952, the range covers the entire flavor spectrum: from historic pillars to seasonal innovations, including 0.0% ABV versions.
Leffe Blonde
6.6% ABV
The most iconic. Clove, vanilla, fruity lightness. The archetypal standard of Belgian abbey beer.
Leffe Brune
6.5% ABV
The firstborn in 1952. Melted caramel, coffee, licorice, apple. A medieval recipe reinterpreted.
Leffe Tripel
8.5% ABV
Bottle-conditioned. Citrus, coriander, sweet spices, honey. For discerning palates.
Leffe Rituel 9°
9% ABV
Powerful character. Pronounced bitterness, copper color, roasted cereals, and assertive hops.
Leffe Prestige 1240
Limited Edition
Tribute to the year 1240. Superior balance, strict selection of noble malts. The prestige cuvée.
Leffe Ruby
5% ABV
Red fruits (raspberry, blackberry) and rosewood. Refreshing, ideal as an introduction to abbey beers.
Leffe Nectar
Sweet
Flavored with natural honey. Round and sweet profile, excellent introduction to abbey beers.
Seasonal Range
Spring · Summer · Winter
Ephemeral brews depending on the season, renewing the very ancient tradition of rural Belgian brewers.
0.0% Range
Blonde · Brune · Ruby
Technical dealcoholization preserving the ester aromas of the Leffe yeast. For drivers and health-conscious individuals.
Monastic Life
Notre-Dame de Leffe Abbey —
a living community
While Maison Leffe welcomes tourist flows, the original abbey — located below at Place de l'Abbaye 1 — beats to the immutable rhythm of prayer. The Norbertine canons maintain rites there, some of which date back to the 4th century.
Daily Schedule (Weekdays)
- 🕖 7:00 AM – Readings & Lauds
- 🕙 11:00 AM – Mass (Eucharist)
- 🕕 6:00 PM – Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
- 🕡 6:30 PM – Solemn Vespers
- 🕗 8:30 PM – Compline
Sundays & Solemnities
- 🕣 7:30 AM – Lauds
- 🕙 10:30 AM – High Sunday Mass
- 🕡 6:30 PM – Vespers
- 🕗 8:30 PM – Compline
Liturgical Calendar 2026
Special dates and services for the year of grace 2026.
| Celebration | Date & Time | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Palm Sunday | March 29, 2026 – 10:30 AM | Solemn opening of Holy Week. |
| Holy Thursday – Mass of the Lord's Supper | April 2, 2026 – 6:00 PM | Extended vigil at the altar of repose until Compline. |
| Good Friday – Celebration of the Passion of the Lord | April 3, 2026 – 6:00 PM | Liturgy of the Cross. No Eucharistic sacrifice celebrated. |
| Easter Vigil | April 4, 2026 – 9:00 PM | Blessing of the fire, announcement of the Resurrection. |
| Octave of Easter – Premonstratensian proper rite | April 5 – 12, 2026 – 6:30 PM | Hierosolymitan rite (4th century): procession in the cloister and acclamation of the risen Christ before the Cross. Unique in Belgium. |
| Ascension of the Lord | May 14, 2026 – 10:30 AM (Vigils: May 13 – 8:30 PM) |
Solemn feast with exceptional sung vigils. |
| Feast of Saint Norbert | June 6, 2026 – 11:00 AM (Vigils: June 5 – 8:30 PM) |
Celebration of the founder of the Premonstratensian Order. |
| Feast of Saint Augustine | August 28, 2026 – 11:00 AM | Tribute to the author of the Rule for the regular canons of Leffe. |
Guided tours of the abbey (Summer 2026)
July and August only · Saturdays and Sundays at 3:00 PM
Meet at 2:50 PM in front of the main gate · Place de l'Abbaye 1, Dinant
Free · No booking required for individuals
Off-season groups: mandatory booking at least 1 month in advance.
Practical Information
Plan your visit
📍 Address
Charreau des Capucins 23
5500 Dinant, Belgium
(La Merveilleuse Hotel Complex)
🕙 Opening Hours
Open 7 days/week from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Last admission: 6:00 PM
Possible low season: 12 PM – 5 PM on weekdays
🎫 Prices 2025/2026
Adult: €15 (tour + tasting + free chalice)
Child < 12 yrs: Free
Group (≥ 15 pers.): ~€12, booking required
🚗 Parking
On-site parking (La Merveilleuse) · Coaches accepted
Free motorhome parking: Rue du Moulin 7
Interparking Centre Dinant: 76 covered spaces · 6 electric chargers
🚂 Transport Access
Dinant SNCB Train Station a few minutes walk away
Walk up from the center: steep climb (Charreau des Capucins)
Tourist shuttles in high season
🌍 Languages & Accessibility
Tour available in EN · FR · NL
Full wheelchair access · Pets allowed
VISITWallonia pass compatible
🍽 On-site
Leffe Restaurant / Café
Exclusive souvenir shop
Panoramic terrace overlooking the Meuse and the citadel
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything to know before
your visit to Leffe
What is the history of Leffe beer?
Leffe beer was born in 1240 when the Notre-Dame de Leffe Abbey, founded in 1152 by Premonstratensian canons in Dinant, acquired a brewery to provide a purified drink to pilgrims. Boiling the wort eliminated waterborne pathogens. After several destructions, the beer was revived in 1952 thanks to a historic agreement between Abbot Cyrille Nys and brewer Albert Lootvoet. AB InBev has been managing global production since the 1990s.
What does the €15 entrance ticket include?
The €15 adult ticket includes full access to the interactive museum tour (about 1 hour), a tasting of a Leffe beer of your choice at the end of the visit, and a complimentary Leffe chalice glass as a welcome gift. Sometimes, a cheese platter is added to the tasting.
Can you visit the Notre-Dame de Leffe Abbey?
The abbey is open to the general public only in July and August: free guided tours on Saturdays and Sundays at 3:00 PM (meet at 2:50 PM in front of the gate at Place de l'Abbaye, no booking required). Off-season, tours are reserved for organized groups with a booking made at least 1 month in advance. The daily liturgical offices are open to the faithful all year round.
What is the difference between abbey beer and Trappist beer?
A Trappist beer is physically brewed within the monastery by monks or under their direct supervision, and its profits go entirely to the community or charities. An abbey beer like Leffe operates under license: a secular brewer (AB InBev) produces and markets it under the abbey's name in exchange for royalties paid to the canons. It is the 1952 agreement between Leffe and Albert Lootvoet that invented this model, adopted by dozens of abbeys (Affligem, Corsendonk…).
How do I get to Maison Leffe from Dinant?
Maison Leffe is located at Charreau des Capucins 23, on the heights of Dinant (integrated into the La Merveilleuse complex). The walk up from the city center is steep. Options: on-site parking (coaches accepted), free parking at Rue du Moulin 7 (10 min walk, ideal for motorhomes), or Interparking Centre Dinant (76 covered spaces, 6 charging stations). Dinant's SNCB train station is a few minutes' walk from the bottom of the hill.
Is the site accessible to people with reduced mobility?
Yes, Maison Leffe is structurally adapted to accommodate People with Reduced Mobility (PRM). Pets are allowed on the site. Audio mediation is available in English, French, and Dutch. Children under 12 enter for free.
Did Dinant win you over?
Extend the adventure on the Semois!
Just 40 minutes away, discover the wild meanders of the Semois by kayak,
with riverside camping in Vresse-sur-Semois.