MONASTÈRE ANTOINETTE [BE]

Exploration #192 Monastère Antoinette. Monastère Antoinette is located in the Belgian district of Liège, in the centre of a small town on the banks of the river Meuse. The monastery was built at the beginning of the 20th century by converting an old castle of which no trace remains today. During its lifetime the monastery housed various religious orders and also German troops during World War II. Since 2008 it has been in a state of neglect and ruin.

The first news about Monastère Antoinette dates back to 1892, when the Sisters of the Congregation of St. Charles moved to this town, inside a castle that was built for the Count of Levignan in 1786. However, it was not until three years later that the sisters left the castle and moved into a new monastery nearby. The castle remained abandoned until 1904 when it was bought by two businessmen and converted into a monastery. The work was so extensive that nothing remains of the old castle.

Upon its completion, the new building was occupied by French Carmelite nuns who only remained there until 1927, when the Benedictine monks took possession. Unfortunately, World War II soon broke out and in 1940, Monastère Antoinette was occupied by German troops. However, the Germans unexpectedly allowed new nuns to settle in the building, which continued to house them after the war.
In 1969, the nuns merged with the Sisters of St Augustine and left the monastery, which was converted into a home for the elderly. Unfortunately, at the beginning of the 21st century, the retirement home Monastère Antoinette was closed.

The last inhabitant left in 2008 and the building was sealed off. Only a year later, there were plans to renovate the property. The new company intended to turn the former monastery into residential flats, but this project was never realised and the complex fell into disrepair.