Lilbosch Abbey () is a

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of Monasticism, monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in Cenobitic monasticism, communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a ...

of the

Trappists The Trappists, officially known as the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (, abbreviated as OCSO) and originally named the Order of Reformed Cistercians of Our Lady of La Trappe, are a Religious order (Catholic), Catholic religious o ...

( Cistercians of the Strict Observance) founded in 1883 and located in Lilboscherveld in Pepinusbrug, Echt,

Limburg Limburg or Limbourg may refer to: Regions * Limburg (Belgium), a province since 1839 in the Flanders region of Belgium * Limburg (Netherlands), a province since 1839 in the south of the Netherlands * Diocese of Limburg, Roman Catholic Diocese in ...

, in the

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

. The abbey is largely self-sufficient thanks to its own farm, which has an area of 110 hectares and supports not only the cultivation of crops but also free-range pig-keeping, calf-rearing and bee-keeping. The farming techniques are organic, as far as possible. Apart from the farmland the abbey has another 30 hectares or so of natural uncultivated land.

History

Lilbosch Abbey was founded from

Achel Abbey The Trappist Abbey of Achel or Saint Benedictus-Abbey or Achelse Kluis (which means hermitage of Achel), which belongs to the Cistercians of Strict Observance, is located in Achel in the Campine region of the province of Limburg (Flanders, Bel ...

which at the time was receiving many applicants for admission. The third abbot of Achel, Dom Bernardus Maria van der Seyp, therefore looked for a new location for expansion. The choice fell on an area of marshy ground in the district of Echt. The founding group arrived in 1883. The new foundation flourished, and in 1912 Lilbosch was elevated to the status of an abbey. Lilbosch owned a guest house built in 1890, which is now the Hof van Herstal restaurant. The abbey has a chapel in a bunker and an aeroplane monument as memorials to

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. In September 1942, a British

Short Stirling The Short Stirling was a British four-engined heavy bomber of the Second World War. It has the distinction of being the first four-engined bomber to be introduced into service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the war (the earlier Handley ...

bomber crashed into the nearby marshy land. Excavations to recover the remains of crew, retrieve surviving parts of the bomber, and potentially clear unexploded ordnance began in September 2019. In 2003 another Cistercian monastery nearby, Ulingsheide Abbey in

Tegelen Tegelen () is a village in the municipality of Venlo, situated in the Netherlands. It was an independent municipality until 2001, when it was merged into the municipality of Venlo. Tiglian The name of the glacial stage of Tiglian (part of the ...

, became an annex to Lilbosch Abbey. As of summer 2020 negotiations were ongoing for the sale of the property. Lilbosch Abbey church was renovated in 2012–2013. As of 2013 the community numbered 13 monks.

Natura 2000

The abbey is part of the

Natura 2000 Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas designated under the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive, respectiv ...

area "Abdij Lilbosch & voormalig Klooster Mariahoop" because of the colonies of bats. Abdij Lilbosch (Echt-Susteren) kerk exterieur priesterkoor.JPG, Abbey church (priests' choir) Abdij Lilbosch (Echt-Susteren) kerk exterieur, rij zijkapellen.JPG, Abbey church (side chapels) Abdij Lilbosch (Echt-Susteren) kerk, glasraam 02.JPG, Abbey church (stained glass window) Pey (Echt-Susteren) Hof van Herstal.JPG, Hof van Herstal, the former guesthouse

References

External links

Lilbosch Abbey website

Limburgs Kloostervarkens: pigkeeping at the abbey
{{Coord, 51, 5, 0, N, 5, 54, 53, E, type:building_region:NL, display=title 1883 establishments in the Netherlands Trappist monasteries in the Netherlands Christian monasteries in Limburg (Netherlands) Echt-Susteren 19th-century architecture in the Netherlands