900 years of Norbertines: visit of the renovated Park Abbey

The order of the Norbertines celebrate their 900th anniversary this year.  Saint Norbert has founded the order in 1121.  The abbey in our backyard, the Park Abbey , was founded in 1128 in the same year as the Abbey of Grimbergen and a bit earlier than the Abbey from Averbode from whom it now depends on and who sent new 'younger' monks to Leuven when those living here were too old and needed care.  

Early May Parcum, the museum on religious art located in part of the abbey buildings, opened an exposition on the history of the order in the newly renovated abbey parts.  For a limited time you can visit some parts of the renovated abbey.  It was even announced on the national news broadcast.  Quite some people I know have profited from the occasion already and all of them were unanimously positive.  

So when my mom was coming to Leuven for the first time in more than a year, I booked us some tickets. Thanks to the advice of some other mothers, I packed up some belts so the children could run around in the little white Norbertine habits available for children. 

Founding father Saint Norbert and the early history

In the first rooms we found some history on the saint Norbert and the founding of the first Norbertine abbeys, among which this one of the Park Abbey. 

Searching the Park Abbey on the 'family tree' of Norbertine abbeys and monasteries

Some cruel bloodshed on a priest's cape showing the Saint Johns martyrship

The Stained-Glass-windows

20 recovered original 17th century stained -glass windows have been repositioned in the abbey cloyster halls. They tell the story of Saint-Norbert and were made by the local glass artist Jean de Caumont.  After the French revolution the windows had been sold and dispersed in the world as fundraiser but now 20 of them are back in full glory at their original location. 

The refectory

The renovated refectory shines in full glory. Especially the stucco relief decoration at the ceiling by Jan Hansche is amazing.  While I had already been often in the cloister halls before (in winter time the church service moves into one of the cloister rooms that can be heated more easily and Kabouter was baptised in the cloister), I had never had the chance to visit the refectory before. 
Tilted mirrors on the tables allowed getting even a better view of the stucco art work. 

The abt's appartment and other salons. 

The exposition also enters the north/east corner of the abbey with some salons on the ground floor and the abbot's apartment on the top floor that is now accessible.   When we were preparing our own wedding, we had our interview with the priest who lived in one of these rooms, so the monks must have all moved to the south of the abbey which is currently still under renovation or is simply not accessible at the moment. 

The abbot's private chapel in his corner apartment

The library

Highlight to me was the visit to the library. Finally, I could witness this gem.  I had asked permission at our wedding to access and take some wedding pictures there, but the abbot back then had vetoed it.  Now and then there's guided tours, but I had never made one and now the abbey has been under restoration for more than a decade.  

So finally I was here and it was stunning.  There are beds to lay down and better admire the stucco artwork at the ceiling. 

The abbey/parish church