Villers-la-Ville - The Grandeur of Abbey & Forest

The beautiful forests around Villers protect the precious ruins of Villers la Ville Abbey like a soft green cloak. Let the peaceful serenity of this walk transport and inspire you.

In the 13th century the Monk’s Order of Citaux erected one of the largest abbeys in the Christian world. Despite its attack during the French Revolution in 1789, the impressive ruins still testify to its ecclesiastical power today. Exploring the surrounding areas you will discover the forest opening up like a large nave lined with tall beech trees. It paves the way in and sheds interesting dappled light onto those that walk below on the rich forest path sprinkled with a rich landscape of daffodils and blueberries scattered throughout the valleys and fringing the ponds. As you reach the edge of the forest, you will find a road leading to the villages of La Roche and Tangissart, comforting and peaceful in their isolation. A steep descent takes you down into the valley onto the stream where beavers make their mangroves. Large forests, meadows wetlands and exceptional heritage are the highlights of this trip. It’s a truly varied and splendorous walk to behold.