Abbey of Cantimpré van Bellingen

About

The Abbey of Cantimpré (Cantimpret) in Bellingen was an abbey and abbey of Kamerijk. She was situated between the still present abbey farm Cantimpré and the former abbey church (Our Lady Church, parish church of Bellingen). The buildings have disappeared but turned into an archaeological site.

The Priory was founded in 1182, and culminated between 1583-1677 as Cantimpré abbey of Bellingen. The mother abbey in Kamerijk was destroyed during war violence in 1580, the monks fled and moved into the priory which then became the status of abbey (1614). In 1745, the Augusts finally moved back to Kamerijk and the abbey became a priory again.

During the French Revolution, the abbey and the estate were attacked and sold and then it fell into decline. The remaining buildings were demolished in the 19th century. In 2013 and 2014, an archaeological study was carried out following the restoration of the Our Lady Church of Bellingen.

There are still some remains of the disappeared abbey to observe and also the relics of Saint Drogo (Drogo of Sebourg), brought by canons...