L’histoire de l’abbaye de Grimbergen
Depuis 1128, l'abbaye de Grimbergen fut dévastée jusqu'à trois fois par les flammes et à chaque fois reconstruite par les moines.
Depuis 1128, l'abbaye de Grimbergen fut dévastée jusqu'à trois fois par les flammes et à chaque fois reconstruite par les moines.
Le phénix est le symbole de cet héritage inspirant et de neuf siècles de savoir-faire brassicole à Grimbergen.
In 1128, the Lords of Grimbergen asked the founder of the Premonstratensian order, Norbert van Xanten, to build an abbey. The man of the Church responds to their wishes.
Shortly after, in the same year, the monks of Grimbergen Abbey began brewing a local beer.
In 1142, the Lords of Grimbergen revolted against the Duke of Brabant. This is the start of the Battle of Grimbergen.
The Abbey was completely destroyed, but rebuilt stone by stone in the years that followed.
In 1556, the Abbey was destroyed for the second time in the wake of the wars of religion. The monks took refuge in Brussels and only returned to Grimbergen 30 years later to rebuild their community.
In 1629, Grimbergen Abbey was rebuilt.
The monks and the order of canons decided to adopt the phoenix as the emblem of their coat of arms, a symbol of rebirth, which they underlined by the motto “ardet nec consumitur”, which means “burns but does not consume”.
With the phoenix as a proud and inspiring symbol, Grimbergen Abbey quickly experienced new growth.
But a new danger presents itself: in the 18th century, during the French Revolution, all the possessions of churches and abbeys were sold.
In 1798, the monks had to leave the place again. And the abbey and its brewery were destroyed for a third time.
Like a fourth resurrection of Grimbergen, the return of brewing to Grimbergen Abbey in 2021 marks a special new chapter in our history.
The creation of limited edition beers within the abbey for the first time in 200 years is a great achievement for the monks, for the community of Grimbergen and all Grimbergen beer lovers.
