Accomplishments of the Friends of Park Abbey

Friends of Park Abbey works as an umbrella volunteer association to help preserve and access the heritage. The Friends also help to maintain the gardens and the grounds and to enhance the appearance. A selection of their accomplishments:

• Cataloguing the book collection
  Between 1990 and 2010, the Friends, in collaboration with the Leuven university library, catalogued the abbey’s collection of books. A truly painstaking work that resulted in an accurate description of more than 6,000 old prints.
• Restoration of art heritage and archive
  The Friends had paintings and a tapestry restored. A part of the archive, the definitive memory of the abbey, was also restored with the assistance of the Friends. Rightly so, since this goldmine for historians contains, among other things, the founding charter from 1129!
• Contribution Peace Carillon
  Friends of Park Abbey purchased a bell for the Peace Carillon, more specifically the Franciscus bell. In this way, the organisation has made a contribution to the international peace narrative that has been ringing out at the site of the abbey since 11 November 2018.
• Tracking down stained-glass windows
  Friends of Park Abbey succeeded in tracking down several historical stained-glass windows scattered throughout the world and bringing them back to Leuven. Today they can be admired in the renovated cloister aisle.
• Nature conservation
  The nature around the abbey also receives the necessary attention from the Friends. They manage the bees, herb garden and tall orchards. Volunteers for green maintenance and nature management are welcome every first Saturday of the month!
• Cultural contribution
  The Friends also support the abbey’s cultural image and published the book Abdij van Park: pachthoeven & landbouwdomein. They also support the volunteer activities of PARCUM and organise concerts, guided tours, themed excursions, open house days, lectures, etc.