Herkenrode Abbey
Encyclopedia
Herkenrode Abbey
was a former monastery
of Cistercian nuns
located in Kuringen, part of the municipality of Hasselt
, which lies in the province of Limburg
, Belgium
.
Since 1972 some of the surviving buildings have served as the home of a community of the Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre, who have since built a new retreat center and church on the site.
In 1974 the buildings and the surrounding estate were designated and since then protected as a national historical monument and landscape.
, who sold a part of his lands to raise funds for his participation in the Crusades, and used some of the proceeds to endow a Cistercian monastery for nuns. (Some historians claim that he was forced to do so by Rudolf of Zähringen
, the Prince-Bishop of Liège, as a penance
for having burnt down the collegiate church
of Tongeren).
In 1217 the abbey was formally accepted into the Cistercian Order, the first, and also the greatest and wealthiest, women's monastery of the Order in the Low Countries
. The nuns referred to themselves as the "noble ladies of the Order of Cîteaux of the County of Loon" .
After Count Gerard was killed during the Third Crusade
at the Siege of Acre
in 1191, his body was brought back by the same Archbishop Rudolph, who had led an army to the siege. Rudolph reached, though, only as far as Switzerland, dying there on the way home. Gerard was buried in the church of the abbey he had founded, which from then on became the burial place of all the Counts of Loon. This custom continued up to the last Count to die with that title, Dietrich (or Theodoric) of Sponheim
(d. 1361), who was refused burial here because he had been excommunicated.
In 1366 the County of Loon passed into the possession of the Prince-Bishops of Liège, with whom the nuns succeeded in remaining on good terms.
During the 15th century the abbey, like many others, suffered a severe decline, but from around 1500 enjoyed a revival. In the 18th century a total reconstruction was planned, of which the Neo-Classical
abbesses' lodgings was built, as well as an English garden
, still intact, with exotic trees.
The French Revolutionary Army
invaded the region in 1795 and annexed it to France
. During a policy of anti-Catholic measures which were in effect from 1795-1799, they seized the abbey and expelled the nuns, as a result of which the monastic community was permanently dispersed. The abbey was sold to Claes and Libotton, after which the buildings gradually fell into disrepair. In 1826 a fire destroyed much of the church, which had been in use as a factory, after the stained glass
windows had been replaced by clear glass. In 1844 the remaining ruins were demolished, including the mausoleum
of the Counts of Loon. Many artworks from the church have survived and are kept in museums.
bought part of the old abbey grounds with their remaining buildings. They have since built a new monastery and retreat center. Ten years later, they built the Church of the Risen Lord, which now serves the canonesses and their guests.
Much restoration work has taken place on the remaining buildings of the previous abbey, all of which date from the 16th-18th centuries.
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
was a former monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Cistercian nuns
Cistercian nuns
Cistercian nuns are female members of the Cistercian Order, a religious order belonging to the Roman Catholic branch of the Catholic Church.-History:...
located in Kuringen, part of the municipality of Hasselt
Hasselt
Hasselt is a Belgian city and municipality, and capital of the Flemish province of Limburg...
, which lies in the province of Limburg
Limburg (Belgium)
Limburg is the easternmost province of modern Flanders, which is one of the three main political and cultural sub-divisions of modern Belgium. It is located west of the river Meuse . It borders on the Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Limburg and the Belgian provinces of Liège, Flemish Brabant...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
Since 1972 some of the surviving buildings have served as the home of a community of the Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre, who have since built a new retreat center and church on the site.
In 1974 the buildings and the surrounding estate were designated and since then protected as a national historical monument and landscape.
Cistercians
The abbey was founded in or about 1182 by Count Gerard of LoonCounty of Loon
The County of Loon was a state of the Holy Roman Empire, lying west of the Meuse river in present-day Flemish-speaking Belgium, and east of the old Duchy of Brabant. The most important cities of the county were Beringen, Bilzen, Borgloon, Bree, Hamont, Hasselt, Herk-de-Stad, Maaseik, Peer and...
, who sold a part of his lands to raise funds for his participation in the Crusades, and used some of the proceeds to endow a Cistercian monastery for nuns. (Some historians claim that he was forced to do so by Rudolf of Zähringen
Rudolf of Zähringen
Rudolf of Zähringen was the archbishop of Mainz from 1160 to 1161 and prince-bishop of Liège...
, the Prince-Bishop of Liège, as a penance
Penance
Penance is repentance of sins as well as the proper name of the Roman Catholic, Orthodox Christian, and Anglican Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation/Confession. It also plays a part in non-sacramental confession among Lutherans and other Protestants...
for having burnt down the collegiate church
Collegiate church
In Christianity, a collegiate church is a church where the daily office of worship is maintained by a college of canons; a non-monastic, or "secular" community of clergy, organised as a self-governing corporate body, which may be presided over by a dean or provost...
of Tongeren).
In 1217 the abbey was formally accepted into the Cistercian Order, the first, and also the greatest and wealthiest, women's monastery of the Order in the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
. The nuns referred to themselves as the "noble ladies of the Order of Cîteaux of the County of Loon" .
After Count Gerard was killed during the Third Crusade
Third Crusade
The Third Crusade , also known as the Kings' Crusade, was an attempt by European leaders to reconquer the Holy Land from Saladin...
at the Siege of Acre
Siege of Acre
The Siege of Acre was one of the first confrontations of the Third Crusade, lasting from August 28, 1189 until July 12, 1191, and the first time in history that the King of Jerusalem was compelled to personally see to the defence of the Holy Land...
in 1191, his body was brought back by the same Archbishop Rudolph, who had led an army to the siege. Rudolph reached, though, only as far as Switzerland, dying there on the way home. Gerard was buried in the church of the abbey he had founded, which from then on became the burial place of all the Counts of Loon. This custom continued up to the last Count to die with that title, Dietrich (or Theodoric) of Sponheim
House of Sponheim
The House of Sponheim or Spanheim was a noble family of the Holy Roman Empire in the High Middle Ages. They were Dukes of Carinthia from 1122 until 1269 and Counts of Sponheim until 1437...
(d. 1361), who was refused burial here because he had been excommunicated.
In 1366 the County of Loon passed into the possession of the Prince-Bishops of Liège, with whom the nuns succeeded in remaining on good terms.
During the 15th century the abbey, like many others, suffered a severe decline, but from around 1500 enjoyed a revival. In the 18th century a total reconstruction was planned, of which the Neo-Classical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
abbesses' lodgings was built, as well as an English garden
English garden
The English garden, also called English landscape park , is a style of Landscape garden which emerged in England in the early 18th century, and spread across Europe, replacing the more formal, symmetrical Garden à la française of the 17th century as the principal gardening style of Europe. The...
, still intact, with exotic trees.
The French Revolutionary Army
French Revolutionary Army
The French Revolutionary Army is the term used to refer to the military of France during the period between the fall of the ancien regime under Louis XVI in 1792 and the formation of the First French Empire under Napoleon Bonaparte in 1804. These armies were characterised by their revolutionary...
invaded the region in 1795 and annexed it to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. During a policy of anti-Catholic measures which were in effect from 1795-1799, they seized the abbey and expelled the nuns, as a result of which the monastic community was permanently dispersed. The abbey was sold to Claes and Libotton, after which the buildings gradually fell into disrepair. In 1826 a fire destroyed much of the church, which had been in use as a factory, after the stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows had been replaced by clear glass. In 1844 the remaining ruins were demolished, including the mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
of the Counts of Loon. Many artworks from the church have survived and are kept in museums.
Canonesses
In 1972 the Canonesses Regular of the Holy SepulchreCanonesses Regular of the Holy Sepulchre
The Canonesses Regular of the Holy Sepulchre are a Catholic female religious order founded in the 14th century. They were the female branch of the ancient military Order of that name, and they follow the Rule of St...
bought part of the old abbey grounds with their remaining buildings. They have since built a new monastery and retreat center. Ten years later, they built the Church of the Risen Lord, which now serves the canonesses and their guests.
Much restoration work has taken place on the remaining buildings of the previous abbey, all of which date from the 16th-18th centuries.
Abbesses of Herkenrode
- Ingeltrude I (1182-1205)
- Jutta I (1205-1237)
- Ingeltrude II (1237-1257)
- Jutta II (1257-1272)
- Margareta (1273-before 1281)
- Aleidis van Diest (1281-1302)
- Margareta van Stein (1303-1333)
- Agnes van Guigoven (1333-1337)
- Beatrix van Lobosch (1341-1354)
- Aleidis van Wanrode (1354-1365)
- Catharina van Kerkom (1365-1391)
- Catharina van Goetshoven (1395-1412)
- Aleidis van Rijkel (1414-1433)
- Elisabeth van Kerkom (1433-1442)
- Beatrix van Reckhoven (1442-1447)
- Catharina van Schoonbeek (1447-1456)
- Catharina van Pipenpoye (1456-1491)
- Gertrudis de Lechy (1491-1519)
- Mechtildis de Lechy (1520-1548)
- Aleidis de Lechy (1548-1561)
- Catharina van Goor (1561-1579)
- Albertina van Schwartsenberg (1579, for a few months only)
- Catharina van Gaver (1579-1585)
- Anna van Blockerien (1585-1620)
- Margareta van Bergen (1620-1637)
- Barbara de Hinnesdael (1637-1653)
- Anna Catharina de Lamboy (1653-1675)
- Claudia de Merode (1675-1702)
- Catharina van Mombeek (1702-1725)
- Gertrudis van Mettekoven (1725-1728)
- Barbara de Rivière d'Arschot (1728-1744)
- Anna de Croÿ (1744-1772)
- Augustina van Hamme (1772-1790)
- Josephine de Gondrecourt (1791-1796)