show!
Choose other city guides
Religious Sites in Brussels
Brussels offers some spectacular religious architecture and sites and one at the top of the list is the Cathedrale des Sts Michel and Gudule, named after the two patron saints of Brussels. Construction began in 1226 and took nearly three centuries to complete and in 1994 it won the award for the best architectural building. The length of time under construction resulted in a true mixture of styles with the cathedral's oldest sections being Romanesque in nature and the newest parts exhibiting the finesse of the Renaissance. Also worth visiting is the Our Lady of the Sablon Church, located in the centre in Sablon Square. This beautiful Gothic church contains some stunning stained glass windows and the Von Thurn and Taxis family’s private chapel. Legend has it, that a vision of Mary Mother of Christ revealed herself to an ordinary citizen here in the 12th Century. Other notable religious sites in the city include the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the Notre Dame church designed by Joseph Poelaert, who was the architect of the Palace of Justice and the Saint Nicholas Church.
|
Abbaye de la Cambre
|
Address: Avenue E Duray, Avenue de Mot
|
|
|
|
|
|
The village of Ixelles originated with the foundation of Abbaye de la Cambre (Dutch: Abdij of Ter Kameren), which was established by the Sisters of the Cistercian Order in the Middle Ages. The abbey was initially situated close to the springs of the Maelbeek River in the Sonian Forest, whose remaining part, known as Bois de la Cambre (Dutch: Ter Kamerenbos), today adjoins the city of Brussels. Not long after its foundation, the abbey was consecrated by the Bishop of Cambrai. Following centuries of mostly undisturbed existence, the convent was closed in the course of the French Revolution (1797) and the buildings, the majority of them dating from the 18th Century, were left abandoned. In 1921 it was taken over by the Ligue des Amis de la Cambre and thoroughly restored. These days, the majestic edifices of the former abbey are not accessible for the public, being home to the headquarters of the Belgian National Geographic Institute and Ecole de La Cambre, an esteemed visual arts school that takes its name from the abbey.
|
|
more
|
|
|
Anderlecht Béguinage
|
Address: Rue du Chapître 8
Phone: +32 02 521 13 83
|
|
|
|
|
|
The beguinages (or begijnhofs as they are called in Dutch) were small communities of women that emerged as early as the 13th Century in countries like Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands. These ladies, known as Beguines, were Catholic lay sisters and mostly widows of Crusaders who pursued a godly life in a quiet seclusion, without taking religious vows. Their homes, also called beguinages, could be described as a cross between a convent and an almshouse complex. They were often walled enclosures, sort of little isolated towns containing houses, churches, public buildings, gardens etc. In Belgium alone, remnants of the beguinages can be seen in 20 cities, of which 13 have been inscribed on UNESCO’S World Heritage List. The Anderlecht Beguinage in Brussels is one of them and, although perhaps not as attractive as the one located in Brugge, it still deserves a visit.
|
|
more
|
|
|
Eglise du Béguinage
|
Address: Place du Béguinage
Phone: +32 2 217 87 42
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Église du-Béguinage (Beguinage Church) is a well known landmark to visitors, highly recommended as an outstanding example of the Italian-influenced Flemish Baroque style in Belgium. It is a fine church from the 17th Century, located on the small, circular Place de Beguinage in a peaceful area of Brussels. Together with the edifices encircling the square, it forms a harmonious architectural ensemble. One of the most noteworthy and majestic shrines in Brussels, it has a commanding presence, particularly after dark and when seen at a distance, from a fish market in Rue du Peuplier (Populierstraat). The church owes its unique charm to the fusion of different architectural styles. Its design is attributed to the architect Luc Fayd’herbe, a student of Rubens.
|
|
more
|
|
|
St Michael and Gudula Cathedral
|
Address: Parvis Ste-Gudule
Phone: +32 02 217 83 45
e-mail: fernand.collier@skynet.be
|
|
|
Website: http://www.cathedralestmichel.be/
|
|
|
The St Michael and Gudula Cathedral is located on the border of lower and upper Brussels, atop the Treurenberg Hill. French speakers refer to it as Cathédrale Saints-Michel-et-Gudule, while in Dutch it is called Sint-Michiels-en-Sint-Goedelekathedraal, often abbreviated to Sint-Goedele. This is a site of the the Primate of Belgium. Owing to its location in the country’s capital, the church has over the years been used as the venue for Catholic ceremonies of national significance, such as royal weddings, christenings and state funerals. Restoration works that were carried out in the cathedral throughout the entire 20th Century were not completed until December 1999. On December 4, 1999 the wedding between the Belgian Crown Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilda was held within the newly restored interior. Apart from those momentous ceremonies, the cathedral is also where concerts and other artistic events take place.
|
|
more
|
|
|
Eglise Notre Dame du Sablon
|
Address: rue Bodenbroek 6
Phone: +32 02 511 57 41
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Eglise Notre Dame du Sablon (Church of Our Lady of Sablon) is a Late Gothic church situated in an exclusive area of Brussels, a few blocks south of the Grand Place and southwest of the Place Royal. It has a very long history behind it, with the original church, or rather a small chapel, dating back to 1304. The city’s Guild of Crossbowmen donated money for the construction of the chapel and initially it used to be their place of worship. Afterwards, it was frequented by the Emperor Charles V and other monarchs. Up to 1784, Notre Dame du Sablon served as a burial site for the well-off, some of whom brought their own funeral chapels with them. One of such private chapels within the church belonged to Brussels’ Turn and Taxis family, credited with establishing the world’s first international postal system in the 16th Century. The church was enlarged over the centuries and renovated in neo-Gothic style between 1865 and 1934.
|
|
more
|
|
|
Notre Dame Church of Laken (Laeken)
|
Address: Onze Lieve Vrouw Voorplein
|
|
|
|
|
|
Located on the outskirts of Brussels called Laken, the Notre Dame Church of Laken was erected in 1854, under the rule of King Leopold I. It was intended to serve as a memorial to his late wife, Loiuse-Marie of Orleans, the first Queen of Belgium. The architect responsible for design of the church was Joseph Poelaert, who also worked out a plan for the construction of the Palace of Justice in Brussels.
|
|
more
|
|
|
St Boniface
|
Address: Rue de la Paix
|
|
|
|
|
|
St Boniface Church is one of the most interesting samples of religious architecture in Brussels and although not on every tourist’s itinerary, it is a landmark worthy of note nevertheless. On rue de la Paix, in the central area of the city, this stately church has long served as an important place of prayer for the local community.
|
|
more
|
|
|
National Basilica of Koekelberg
|
Address: Basiliekvoorplein 1
|
|
|
Website: http://www.basilicakoekelberg.be
|
|
|
Set on a hill at the westernmost part of Brussels, the enormous brick-faced structure of the National Basilica of Koekelberg is visible from most parts of the city. It measures 89 metres in height and 167 metres in length, which makes it the world’s fifth largest church and at the same time the biggest Art Deco building in existence. Erected to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Belgian independence, the basilica is dedicated to the Sacred Heart, as is the more renowned but equally patriotic Basilique Sacre-Coeur in Paris. It is located in the Koekelberg suburb of Brussels, hence the more commonly used name Basilica of Koekelberg. Besides being a religious site, the church also serves as a venue for various exhibitions.
|
|
more
|
|