Monastère Mont G, Belgium

Monastère Mont G is a former Roman Catholic monastery. The impressive building was built around a century ago. The Catholic Carmelite Order built this place. It was built in of honour Lady Carmel, patroness of the order.

The architectural style is Neo-Gothic. The tall roof supports feature decorative Corinthian columns. The tall vaulted ceiling and supporting columns are made out of white and red sandstone. The red and white stones alternate to produce a banded or striped pattern. The pattern is oddly reminiscent, at least to myself, of a candy cane.

In 2016 there were some rumours of renovation work beginning at Monastère Mont G. Photos began to appear showing the altars and relics wrapped in black plastic. Photos taken inside started to become rare. Eventually, new photos ceased to appear and nowadays there are reports of alarms and prompt police arrivals.

Brief history of Monastère Mont G

A brotherhood of monks purchased the monastery in the 1920s. Firstly the monks used the complex as a school dedicated to philosophical study. Eventually, the school was closed in the 1960s. Following this, it was then used for accommodation and prayer.

The monks sold he building to the local city at the start of the 21st Century. The plan was to turn the site into a welfare campus. Unfortunatly, the plans failed. Subsequently the building was sold to property investors.

A new retirement home was built in the mid 2000s. Interestingly, this was built on the land adjacent to the monastery. The stunning monastery was left empty. It was deemed more cost-effective to build a new more modest building, than to attempt costly renovation works for a simple retirement home. Instead the monastery was to be converted into a hotel and luxury apartments. The plans fell through, as such grand plans often do.

Sadly, the monestery still lies unused.