Abbaye de Bonne Espérance (Our Lady of Good Hope Abbey)

Our Lady of Good Hope Abbey rises out of the Hainaut countryside in the middle of the peaceful village of Vellereille-les-Brayeux, just a few miles from Binche (Mons-La Louvière-Charleroi),  as if by magic. This 900 year old monument is rife with stories from the past.  It was originally home to a totally self-sufficient community of monks, then gradually became a seminary and teacher’s college at the start of the 19th century. Today this architectural gem, which is one of Wallonia’s exceptional listed sites, houses a primary and secondary school and a diocese reception centre and retreat for families, young people and pilgrims. It is also a must on the tourist circuit, a place where tourists and families alike have fun learning about the history of this ancient abbey. People also flock to it at weekends, at times to take part in craft fairs and workshops, at other times to savour local products in the shade of a chestnut tree, but also to enjoy the infrastructure that has permitted the eleven hectare estate to survive over the centuries.
The non-profit association « les Compagnons de l’abbaye » was founded in the 1970s. Its main aim is to work for the renovation of site of the Abbey of Good Hope, especially the elements that bear the « Exceptional Heritage of Wallonia » label.