Hasselt (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Visitors can explore Herkenrode Abbey during the ‘Enlightened Past’ evening walk, guided by light beacons to historical spots. Director Paul Lambrechts highlights life in 1793 and the abbess’s 16th-century reception rooms. Tickets cost €5 in advance or €7 at the door, available from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Visitors can explore the Herkenrode Abbey during a special evening walk called ‘Enlightened Past.’ Paul Lambrechts, the abbey’s director, says light beacons will guide them to important historical spots. They’ll learn about life in 1793, just before the abbey was closed, and follow the journey of Hervé-Julien Lesage, a Norbertine who wrote about his visit to the last abbess.
What historical insights await at Hasselt’s Herkenrode Abbey this weekend?
Paul Lambrechts a Norbertine once compared the beauty of the abbey’s buildings to the lovely ladies who walked there. He also noted that visitors this weekend can see the abbess’s reception rooms from the 16th century and the 18th-century palace where live music is played. Guests will enjoy a cup of soup by the fireplace, allowing them to experience the sights, smells, and tastes of life in the abbey during the 18th century.
In the 18th century, during the French Revolution, all religious orders and abbeys were closed. Paul Lambrechts said this was a time of uncertainty, and the sisters had to move to Germany in 1796. People can visit ‘Enlightened Past’ between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. by booking on the Herkenrode Abbey website. Tickets cost 5 euros in advance and 7 euros at the door.
