Tinker's photos with the keyword: Abbaye de Maredsous

The big gate to the abbey grounds. I believe it is to keep the unwanted non-French speakers out

Out the back of the abbey was this Rapunzel-like tower (actually the stairwell - you can see the stone steps through the door at the bottom). On the bottom left is the cat feeding area and house for them to sleep in

The rear area of the abbey. I did a lot of shaking and smoking in this spot.

My only friend at Maredsous, this black cat (how ironic). Outside the back entry where I went to smoke, there was a cat house (with a flappy door and comfy bedding) and a feeding area. Two tabbies ran away when I approached, but this black cat came over and purred and rolled over to offer his belly. I was so grateful for the warm welcome.

I booked into Mardsous Abbey for a three day retreat. Their website is in four langauges: French, Dutch, English and German. It says "For St Benedict, hospitality is a special concern for monks. All guests to the monastery should be welcomed as Christ". My welcoming word were "you're early". Although I had told them in advance that I did not speak French but did speak Dutch (one of the official languages of Belgium) and English, they seemed not only totally unprepared that I was not francophone, but positively shocked and upset by it. There was a double paged sheet of information in my room laying out the rules, but it was only in French. The monk in charge of the hôtellerie spoke a little English, but only gave me the briefest of information. I asked where I could go, could not go, and from what I understood I could only go to my room, the dining room, the common room, and the church. Nowhere else within the abbey, nor the inner courtyard, nor the gardens. I kept making clear faux pas (from their reactions) but I had no idea what I was supposed to do or not do. They seemed borderline hostile towards me, once they realised I could not speak French. Not at all what I was expecting. Outside the abbey itself, in the grounds, all the signs and info were in Dutch and French, possibly in accordance with Belgian law. Within the abbey, I found nothing in anything but French.

The view from my window at the abbey

My room, 215, at Maredsous. Clearly a former monk's cell, as were all the rooms on my floor. It was roomier than I expected, and had wifi, also unexpected. I was not allowed to make any noise, including phone conversations. Fortunately, I could text. That saved me