After Countess Matilda of Tuscany dropped her wedding ring into the water, she turned to the Blessed Virgin Mary for help. This was the unexpected beginning of the Orval Abbey.
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TheAbbeyofNotre-Damed’Orvalistrulyunlikeanyother.LocatedinthesouthofBelgium,justafewkilometersfromtheFrenchborder,legendhasitthatitwasCountessMatildaofTuscanywhodecidedtofoundtheabbey.
YoumightknowtheabbeyforitsfamousTrappistbeer—butholdontight,becausetodaywe’regoingtotakeyouonajourneyfullofsurprises.
Belowisthestoryofthisremarkableplace.
TheUnexpectedFoundationoftheAbbeyofNotre-Damed’OrvalTheNotre-Damed’OrvalabbeyislocatedinBelgiumintheArdennes.©DivineBoxItallbeganinthe11thcentury,whenCountessMatildaofTuscanywentoutforawalk.Feelingtiredandthirsty,shestoppedbyastreamtotakeadrink.That’swhensheaccidentallydroppedherweddingringintothewater.Shewasheartbroken—itwastheonlymemoryshehadleftofherlatehusband.Devastated,shedidn’thesitatetobegtheVirginMaryforhelp.
Notlongafter,herprayerwasanswered:atroutemergedfromt
