St. Sixtus' Abbey, Westvleteren (Dutch:Sint-Sixtusabdij Westvleteren), which belongs to theCistercians of Strict Observance, or Trappists, is aRoman Catholicabbey located inWestvleteren, in theBelgianProvince of West Flanders. The abbey is famous for its spiritual life, characterised by prayer, reading, and manual work, the three basic elements of Trappist life.It has also a reputation for itsbrewery, one of several producers ofTrappist beer in Belgium.
The earliest traces of amonastic presence at the location of the present day abbey date back to 1260, although theCella Beborna [nl], which is mentioned in a deed of 806 (from the abbey ofSaint-Omer), was probably located in the same area (known at that time asFletrinio). From 1260 to 1355 there was a small community of nuns on the side of the Catsberg. That site was abandoned, but between 1610 and 1784 a monastery of theBridgettines (the Order of the Most Holy Saviour) was located on what is called "Fathers' Corner".
In 1831 thehermit Jan-Baptist Victoor was joined by a prior and a few monks in the woods of Saint Sixtus, and this group developed into the later Trappist abbey of Saint Sixtus in Westvleteren. In 1838 theWestvleteren Brewery was founded inside the abbey precinct. In 1839 a primary school was established and in 1840 theold church of the priory was built. In 1850, a group of monks from Westvleteren foundedScourmont Abbey on the barren plateau of Scourmont nearChimay. In 1871 the priory was granted the status of abbey byPope Pius IX. Between 1875 and 1878 a model farm was developed as an example for the region.
DuringWorld War I the abbey provided shelter to many refugees from the region and in addition almost 400,000 allied soldiers lived in and around the abbey.World War II was a difficult time for the monastery in several respects. After the war, in 1945, the abbot decided to reduce the capacity of the brewery to produce only 4,800hectolitres a year. In 1964 the guesthouse was built, and a new abbeychurch was added in 1968.
50°53′45″N2°43′17″E / 50.895942°N 2.721262°E /50.895942; 2.721262
