The University Faculty of Agricultural Sciences

The University Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, on the site of the former Benedictine abbey, passage of the Deportees.
The passage was named in memory of the more than 1,200 men the Germany occupying forces deported from the canton of Gembloux on 22 November 1916 to work in German factories.
At the corner of the passage is a "potale" or recess, containing a Guardian Angel, dating back to the first half of the 18th century. A stone crown surmounts the semi-circular arch of the recess. The pedestal is adorned with three balusters and wings. The sculpture of the Guardian Angel is the work of Bayard, who also sculpted the church stalls. A plaster statue was placed in the recess in 1979, while the original is being kept by a private individual.
On the left-hand side of the passage is a remnant of the 12th century urban ramparts. This section of the wall is featured in the extension of the porte d’En -Haut, one of the four gateways created in these fortifications.
The former Benedictine abbey was completely rebuilt in the neo-classical style during the second half of 18th century. The work got underway at the abbey farm and the caretaker's lodge and then continued with the main courtyard, the prelacy, the church and the monks' quarters. This was completed under the supervision of the architect Laurent-Benoît Dewez, the official architect for the court of Charles of Lorraine, governor of the Austrian Netherlands. The caretaker's lodge is built against the town's rampart, which was partly destroyed to allow the monastery to be rebuilt. Two pilasters with crosswalls cantonate the porch surmounted with a semi-circular arch decorated with a key block bearing the date 1759. The moulded triangular pediment features the key of St. Peter and the sword of St. Exuperius, the abbey patrons.
On both sides of the door, two stone medallions represent a horse's head, evoking the installation of the state stud farm in the outbuildings of the abbey area (1857-1864).
The main courtyard and the abbatial palace were created in the neo-classical style, which is the dominant feature in the abbey complex. The courtyard layout, from the caretaker's lodge and the two symmetrically opposed stone arches providing access to the other two parts of the estate, leads to the abbatial palace. Chestnut trees lined this area until 1952. The ornamental pool was not created until 1960. The palace stands out at the back of the courtyard, with an ionic peristyle on a flight of three steps. The tympanum of the triangular pediment shows the coat of arms of abbot Jacques Legrain (the windmill as the key motif) and the earldom of Gembloux (three keys) under the earl's crown and the abbatial mitre.
The three arched doors, whose key represents a caduceus, provide access to the building. The central door is surmounted by a medallion comprising a cherub holding the sword and scales of balance, as symbols of justice. This ornamentation conjures up the jurisdictional lord status of the abbot-earl of the Gembloux region.
Inside the palace there is a monumental stairway opposite the central door. The newel on the banisters is decorated, on either side of the steps, with the symbol of a tortoise, a male and female, to represent the Latin motto Festina Lente or make haste slowly.
The large corridor in the abbatial palace leads to the courtyard of the monastic quarter which was decorated with walnut trees until 1952. The courtyard also connects with the abbey church apse which was built at the same time under the supervision of the architect Laurent-Benoît Dewez. Signs of broken off walls in the façade of the abbatial palace and opposite in the wall separating the church from the chapter house are evidence of an old covered passage allowing the abbot -earl to reach the church directly from his dwelling.
The architecture in the monks quarter is similar to that of the abbatial palace but without its splendour and features a cloister adjoining the church. The cloister has been extensively restored since the end of the Second World War.
It now has stain glass windows representing the coats of arms of the various abbots who have come and gone since Guibert Martin (early13th century). As part of the restoration programme in the mid 20th century, the cloister had a small room added to make it easier to reach an 11th century cellar, the sole remnant of the medieval abbey. Above the stairs leading to the cellar is a large stained glass window representing Gembloux abbey's dedication to St. Peter by St. Guibert.
The 45 square metres medieval underground room is divided into two rows by a line of limestone pillars. The cross vaults are formed by shale plates. In the south-east corner of this room is an entrance to underground passageways that must have been a draining system for the abbey. The monks could use them to flee in case of need as one of the passageways leads to the side of the rocky promontory on which the monastery was built.
The University Faculty of Agricultural Sciences park has a collection of tree species: conifers not far from the Sarrasins tower, a remnant of the urban ramparts, and leafy species to the north-east of the abbatial palace.
The buildings of the old farm abbey converge on a central courtyard whose entrance is fairly elemental. The aim was that only the old abbey's entrance porch should attract attention, while the entrance for the farm carts was solely as important as the other farm buildings. These are attached together, with a space in the middle. One of the largest in Wallonia the barn is the only building that stands out because of its size.