History
Lissewege's religious history dates back to the Middle Ages, when fishermen found a statue of Mary in a creek and built a church to put it in. To this day, this past is felt throughout the village.
The history of Lissewege has a strong religious flavour. As a medieval pilgrimage site, the village attracted a group of fishermen who found a miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary nearby. They built a church to give this statue a new home. This attracted many pilgrims throughout the following decades, who contributed to the prosperity through donations. The French Benedictines founded the Ter Doest abbey complex in 1106. Farms were erected around the abbey, creating a bustling region. Today, the dovecote tower, gatehouse and 14th-century abbey barn are the only remnants of the impressive abbey buildings.
