Fire damages Rochefort Trappist beer abbey in Belgium Published duration 30 December 2010

media caption All the monks inside managed to escape unharmed

A 13th-Century Belgian abbey famous for its brewery has been damaged by fire but the monks escaped unhurt and the vats survived intact.

The Trappist (Cistercian) monks were dining when fire broke out at the abbey at St Remy-Rochefort, famous for its Rochefort beer.

The building was evacuated and it took 70 firefighters to put out the blaze.

It seems the blaze began near a generator being used temporarily after problems with the power supply.

image caption Rochefort is famous for strong beers

Francois Bellot, mayor of Rochefort, said he was confident that it would be possible to resume beer production within a few days.

Rochefort is one of only five breweries making Trappist beer, which is seen as a gold standard for connoisseurs of the drink.

Archives show the abbey has been producing beer since 1595 and it is known today for producing one of the strongest brews, with 12% alcohol.