Clervaux Abbey

Clervaux Abbey

Abbaye de Clervaux
Clervaux Abbey
Location within Luxembourg
Monastery information
Full name	Abbaye Saint-Maurice et Saint-Maur de Clervaux
Order	Benedictine
Established	1908
Mother house	Solesmes Abbey
Dedicated to	Saint Maurice & Saint Maurus
Diocese	Luxembourg
People
Founder(s)	Dom Louis-Charles Couturier, O.S.B.
Abbot	Dom Michel Jorrot, O.S.B.
Important associated figures	Dom Jean Leclercq, O.S.B.
Architecture
Functional Status	active
Architect	J.F. Klomp
Style	Neo-Romanesque
Groundbreaking	1909
Site
Coordinates	50°03′16″N 6°01′45″E / 50.0544°N 6.0293°E / 50.0544; 6.0293Coordinates: 50°03′16″N 6°01′45″E / 50.0544°N 6.0293°E / 50.0544; 6.0293
Website	www.abbaye-clervaux.lu/fr/accueil/

The Abbey of St. Maurice and St. Maurus of Clervaux (French: Abbaye Saint-Maurice et Saint-Maur de Clervaux), founded in 1890, is a Benedictine monastery in Clervaux, Luxembourg. It is a member of the Solesmes Congregation in the Benedictine Confederation.

The abbey was founded by the Benedictine monks of the Abbey of St. Maur of Glanfeuil in France, itself founded in the 7th century. After its suppression under the French Revolution, that abbey remained vacant until it was re-established in 1890 under Louis-Charles Couturier, O.S.B., Abbot of Solesmes Abbey. In 1901, however, the monks were compelled to leave France due to the anti-clerical laws of the Third French Republic. After finding refuge in Baronville, Belgium (now part of the municipality of Beauraing), the monks began to search for a permanent home. After various inquires failed, they finally settled upon Clervaux. In 1908, a vote was taken by the monastic chapter, which made the decision to dissolve the existing monastery, and to found a new monastery there, dedicated to St. Maurice. Construction on the new abbey, designed in the Neo-Romanesque style by the architect, J.F. Klomp, a Dutchman based in Germany, was begun in 1909. The monks arrived in August 1910 to begin living in the new site. In 1926, the name of St. Maur was added to that of St. Maurice.

In 1937, the Holy See established the monastery as a territorial abbey, independent of the authority of the local bishop. This status lasted until 1946. For much of this period, however, the monastic community of Clervaux lived in exile, having been expelled in January 1941 from the abbey by the Gestapo, as part of their occupation of the nation. The monks were not able to re-occupy their monastery until 1945.