Ename

Ename is situated downstream the river Scheldt. In the early Middle-Ages, the village was on the border of the French and German empire. Around 974, the German emperor Otto II built a defensive fortress on the right bank of the river. Nearby, a trading settlement was founded. That evolution was stopped when the Count of Flanders, vassal of the French king conquered Ename in 1050 and built a Benedictine abbey on the ruins. The abbey would dominate life in Ename for more than 750 years, until it was closed by the French revolutionary authorities and fell into disrepair.

Nowadays, the foundations of the abbey are part of an archaeological park with a European aura. The multimedia ‘time window’ on the site shows the visitor how the abbey used to be.

In the Provincial Archaeological Museum 1,000 years of history are evoked in an interesting way. The museum is next to the Saint Laurentius church which revealed its secret only recently: a unique Byzantine mural was discovered in 1992. The imperial church is the only upright monument from Ename’s period of international prominence in the 10th century.

A visit to Ename can be concluded with a walk in the forest of Ename.

Visit Museum
Pam Ename
Lijnwaadmarkt 20
9700 Oudenaarde (Ename)
T: 055/30.90.40
F: 055/30.99.01
Email: museum@ename974.org
Website: www.ename974.org

Open: every day open from 9.30h – 17.00h
Closed: Monday, 25 and 26 December, 1 and 2 January

Tip !

Also visit the Provincial Archaeological Museum (Pam) in Velzeke (Zottegem) with the same entrance ticket. The museum gives an interesting view of regional life: from prehistory, the Gallo-Roman period till the early Middle-Ages. You can relax in the wonderful Roman garden.

Visit Museum:
Pam Velzeke
Paddestraat 7
9060 Zottegem
T : 09/360.67.16
F : 09/361.28.41
Email : pamzov@oost-vlaanderen.be
Website : www.oost-vlaanderen.be/cultuur/musea/pam/pamzov

Open: every day from 9.00h – 12.00h and from 13.00h – 18.00h
On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: 14.00h – 18.00h