Region & History

Where is the Gaume? Right at the southern tip of Belgium, in the province of Luxembourg, bordering Lorraine. The area is also known as Belgian Lorraine, its unofficial capital is Virton, and it's known for its mild microclimate.

It became famous through an abbey. Orval lies near Villers-devant-Orval in the municipality of Florenville, deep in the forest, and the community dates back to the Middle Ages. In June 1793, French revolutionary troops under General Loison set the complex ablaze; it was plundered and left in ruins.

A legend explains the name. Countess Mathilde of Tuscany is said to have lost her ring in a spring in the 11th century, and a trout brought it back to her — turning the 'golden valley' into Orval, from Val d'Or. The story isn't documented, but the abbey's spring still bears Mathilde's name today, and the trout adorns the bottle.

When the abbey was rebuilt in the 20th century, the Trappists needed money. That's why the brewery started operations in 1931, with lay employees and brewmaster Pappenheimer, who according to tradition devised the recipe. The first beer left the grounds in May 1932, back then still in casks.

What is Trappist beer? A mark of origin, not a beer style. The 'Authentic Trappist Product' logo may only be used by breweries operating in or near the monastery walls, under the monks' supervision, with proceeds going to the community and charitable causes. As of mid-2025, eight breweries worldwide carry it, Orval among them.

Beyond that, the Gaume is home to a few small secular breweries, such as Brasserie Sainte-Hélène in Virton. There's no EU protected designation of origin for beer from the Gaume. The name Orval is protected through the abbey and the Trappist mark itself.