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Religious sites in Belgium
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Abbaye de la Cambre
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Town: Brussels
Address: Avenue E Duray, Avenue de Mot
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| 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 a
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Anderlecht Béguinage
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Town: Brussels
Address: Rue du Chapître 8
Phone: +32 02 521 13 83
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| 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 wh
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Church of St Trinite
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Town: Brussels
Address: Rue Africanize
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| A little gloomy but still impressive, the Baroque Church of St Trinite is situated in a district of Brussels called Western Ixelles, its heavy-duty stonework harmonically completing the Parvis de la Trinite. This church is particularly noted for a flamboyant main façade, which was transferred here from the church of St Augustin and put together block by block, after the church had been demolished to provide room for the place de Brouckere in 1896. Even despite pollution and time which have taken their toll on the building, the façade nevertheless makes a striking impression on all who see it, with its swirling lines, pilasters and pointed pediments. The church also contains beautiful stained-glass windows.
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Eglise du Béguinage
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Town: Brussels
Address: Place du Béguinage
Phone: +32 2 217 87 42
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| 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.
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Eglise Notre Dame du Sablon
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Town: Brussels
Address: rue Bodenbroek 6
Phone: +32 02 511 57 41
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| 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 t
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Eglise St Nicolas
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Town: Brussels
Address: Place St-Nicolas
Phone: +32 02 267 51 64
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| The Eglise St-Nicolas is an enchanting little shrine behind the Bourse in Brussels. Much of the church’s attraction comes from its unique setting; the posh-looking old houses nestle up to it, creating a sight to be savoured.
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Great Synagogue
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Town: Brussels
Address: Rue de la Regence 32
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| Today Brussels’s Jewish population numbers about 20,000 people who attend as many as a dozen synagogues scattered across the city. Often described as a „stately Romanesque” edifice, the Great Synagogue of Brussels (or in French La Grande Synagogue de Bruxelles) is situated on Rue de la Regence, in the very centre of the Belgian capital. Alongside its function as a prayer house, the building is home to a few Jewish organisations, including the Jewish Consistoire and the Communaute Israelite de Bruxelles.
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National Basilica of Koekelberg
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Town: Brussels
Address: Basiliekvoorplein 1
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| 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 ex
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