11/22.- Wallonia: The Molignée Valley and Maredsous Abbey

The Molignée is a small affluent of the Meuse river whose bed meanders through forests and meadows. It used to be a reputed place for trout-fishing. The valley is followed by a railroad that has long fallen into disuse, but which now offers rides in pedal-powered vehicles. Just above the valley towers the Benedictine abbey of Maredsous. The stark neo-gothic grey-granite slate-covered buildings are nothing to write home about, but the monks are famous for their work in Bible translation (there exists a Maredsous Bible which pioneered the idea of a Bible everyday vernacular language) as well as for their excellent cheese and beer.

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