- Joined
- Jan 2, 2017
- Messages
- 47
- Reaction score
- 151
- Points
- 33
- Location
- Belgium
- Website
- www.urbanrelics.be
At the end of the 13th century a convent was erected on the instructions of a noble lady who lived in this town. The convent at the same time served as a hospital and a monastery for the Augustinian sisters, who were responsible for the care of the sick. Barring a short interruption at the time of the French Revolution, they continued to do so until the early 1980s. The hospital had since been transformed into a nursing home. After the sisters’ departure, the retirement home was taken over by the local government.
The showpiece of the monastery was this late Gothic chapel, founded in the early 17th century. For a long time it was a place of pilgrimage for the cure of intestinal disorders. During a fire in the early 2000s, part of the monastery was destroyed, but fortunately the chapel was spared. In its current state, the chapel consists of two parts: the original chapel, constructed in late Gothic style from brick and bluestone. An extension in neoclassical style, dating from the mid-19th century, formed a physical connection between the existing chapel and the hospital, to give patients the opportunity to attend the worship services from the balcony. At the back of the chapel, on the left, you can still see the old refectory, also built in brick and blue stone with a beautiful vintage facade from the early 17th century.
The entire site was included on the protection list of the Walloon heritage in 2006 and is currently being transformed into a new community center. The chapel, which was de-sacralized in 2011, will be transformed into a library, with attention and respect for the historical and architectural character.
The showpiece of the monastery was this late Gothic chapel, founded in the early 17th century. For a long time it was a place of pilgrimage for the cure of intestinal disorders. During a fire in the early 2000s, part of the monastery was destroyed, but fortunately the chapel was spared. In its current state, the chapel consists of two parts: the original chapel, constructed in late Gothic style from brick and bluestone. An extension in neoclassical style, dating from the mid-19th century, formed a physical connection between the existing chapel and the hospital, to give patients the opportunity to attend the worship services from the balcony. At the back of the chapel, on the left, you can still see the old refectory, also built in brick and blue stone with a beautiful vintage facade from the early 17th century.
The entire site was included on the protection list of the Walloon heritage in 2006 and is currently being transformed into a new community center. The chapel, which was de-sacralized in 2011, will be transformed into a library, with attention and respect for the historical and architectural character.
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