At Park Abbey you will come face to face with the legacy of the Norbertines. These ‘Princes of Park’ left an impressive collection of literature and art.
Cedric Verhelst - Openbaar Kunstbezit Vlaanderen
Stucco ceiling, Jan Christiaen Hansche
In 1679 Abbot De Pape asked the Southern Netherlands artist Jan Christiaen Hansche to decorate the abbey's refectory. Hansche designed an impressive stucco ceiling in high relief depicting Old and New Testament tales based on an ingenious programme that emphasized the importance of food. The Last Supper refers to the Eucharist, a topical and carefully chosen subject since the monks ate in the dining hall twice a day. This created a playful contrast between the food actually being served in the refectory and the heavenly food in the shape of consecrated wafers.
Cedric Verhelst - Openbaar Kunstbezit Vlaanderen
Practical information
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Accessibility
- Limited access for people with disabilities.