The mosaic floor was discovered by chance during the restoration phase of the current archive room. The existing wooden floor had to be removed to check its stability and then to insulate it. The city is restoring the abbey in an energy-efficient and sustainable manner. In the process, the workers came across a sand bed, under which, by chance, the mosaic floor emerged.
The floor dates from the early days of the Park Abbey, the 13th century. The room was then used as a winter refectory and was one of the few rooms in Park Abbey that was heated. It is an exceptional find because few such mosaic floors are known in Belgium.
The specialists will decide how to proceed with the restoration. “In any event, this unique floor will be preserved and we are going to find a way to keep it visible, even if only partially. Further research on this floor will undoubtedly add another chapter to the history of the Park Abbey”, says Dirk Vansina.
Earlier during this restoration phase, an underfloor heating system was discovered. The entire abbey had only a handful of heated rooms, and the ‘tonstrina’, or shaving room of the Norbertine monks, was one of them.
New piece of history
With the discovery of this mosaic floor, this latest restoration phase is once again bringing new insights into the abbey's rich history to the surface. In 2011, the City of Leuven took over the entire Park Abbey domain on long lease from the Norbertines. A year later (2012, now exactly 10 years ago), with the support of the Flemish government, the major restoration campaign was launched. The restoration should be completed by 2025.
