Pairi Daiza’s monumental abbey staircase has been restored to its former glory.
This summer, skilled craftsmen carried out a targeted restoration to preserve the authenticity of this structure, built in 1776.
The monumental staircase of the former Cambron Abbey was built in 1776 at the heart of what is now a listed estate. This careful restoration has preserved its authenticity whilst simultaneously enhancing its stability and safety.
This monumental staircase spans the River Dender and bears witness to one of the most prosperous periods in the history of Cambron Abbey. With its dimensions, three flights of steps and stone balustrades, the structure bears witness to a level of splendour far removed from the austerity traditionally associated with the Cistercians.
This opulence did not, however, go unnoticed. In 1783, just seven years after the staircase was built, Emperor Joseph II, a reform-minded monarch, included Cambron amongst the so-called ‘useless’ monasteries and decided to abolish it, as part of a reform targeting contemplative religious communities which he regarded as useless to society.
According to tradition, when the Emperor discovered the staircase, he is said to have described it as ‘one of the most beautiful in Europe’, but at the same time to have wondered ‘whether it leads to paradise’. Although the authenticity of this statement is uncertain, this anecdote illustrates the contrast between the Cistercian ideal of simplicity and the splendour that Cambron had attained by the end of the 18th century.
Exactly 250 years later, the monumental staircase at Pairi Daiza remains one of the most visible reminders of this remarkable chapter in Cambron’s history.
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Authenticity at the heart of the restoration
The staircase now welcomes millions of visitors each year, far more than it was originally designed to accommodate. In addition to this heavy footfall, the staircase is also exposed to the effects of time, water and vegetation, which had made a partial restoration necessary.
For nearly two months, a team of four specialist craftsmen from the Centre region (Hainaut), together with teams from Pairi Daiza’s Infrastructure department and a structural engineer, worked with a single aim in mind: to restore the staircase to its former glory without compromising its character.
Some of the blue stones, the steps and the balustrades were therefore carefully dismantled and restored in the workshop, before being reassembled on site using traditional methods. No materials had to be replaced. The brick walls were repaired, the joints renewed and the structure reinforced. Even certain cracks in the stones were filled with bluestone powder to preserve the original material and appearance.
Thanks to this meticulous work, it is now possible to combine modern requirements for stability and safety with what is essential: the preservation of the building’s historic character, original materials and authenticity.
Working on a historic structure entails specific constraints. The dismantling, restoration and reassembly of the elements were carefully planned to respect the materials, techniques and appearance of the staircase.
Although the staircase is a listed building, Pairi Daiza has borne the full cost of the restoration.
A garden that requires year-round maintenance
Looking after Pairi Daiza means taking care of the animals, the gardens, the stonework, the architecture and the heritage every single day.
The garden is open every day of the year, and some of this work is carried out in full view of visitors, whilst ensuring that disruption is kept to a minimum so that visitors can continue to enjoy their enchanting journey through time and worlds.
Johan Vreys