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GENERAL
Liège (Home)
History
Info on Belgium
SIGHTSEEING
Monuments
Tourist
Attractions
Museums
Churches
Baptismal fonts
Val St Lambert
EXTERNAL LINKS
Hotels
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Airport Liège
University of Liege
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Liège has been an important religious center
all through the ages. Even today the city boasts an impressive number of
churches. Here are some of the most important ones.
SAINT
JACQUES (Saint James' church)
Probably
the most beautiful and most impressive church of Liège. Originally
the church was meant as a stop for pilgrims on the road to Santiago the
Compostella in Spain. The building offers a nice overview of the
different stages in medieval architecture. Their are remainders from the
first Ottonian church of the 12th century. The nave and the choir show the
typical late-gothic style of the 16th century. The Northern entrance has a
Renaissance sculpture 'The dream of Jacob'. Inside, all the attention is
drawn to the magnificent gothic vaults with their arabesques in early
Renaissance style. They belong to the most beautiful on the continent. Some
stained-glass windows from 1525 portray the donators (the families Van der
Marck and Hornes), as well as Saint Lambert and Saint James. In a
side-chapel is a beautiful gilded wooden sculpture of Our-Lady of Saint
James from 1523.
EGLISE
SAINT BARTHELEMY (Saint Bartholomew church)
This church was built by the successor of Bishop Notger The choir dates from
the 11th century, the transepts and the nave are from the 12th century. The
Western façade in typical Mosan style (the style from the cities
situated alongside the river Meuse) was constructed at the end of the 12th
century. The church is already worth a visit for the splendid
baptismal font
made by Renier d'Huy, one of the seven wonders of Belgium. Other art
treasures from the 17th and 18th century complete the attraction of this
building.
CATHEDRALE DE SAINT PAUL (Saint Paul's Cathedral)
The
cathedral was founded in the 10th century but rebuilt from the 13th until
the 15th century. In 1801 the church was promoted to cathedral to replace
the demolished St. Lambert Cathedral. Consequently, changes were
undertaken to prepare St. Paul's for its new function. The building shows
the typical elements of the Mosan Gothic style: three naves with
seven bays and chapels. The entrance is on the Northern side. On the ceiling
some beautiful frescoes can be
admired. They date from 1557 (renovated in 1860) and show a panoply of
people, birds, arabesques and mythical animals. Saint Paul's cathedral
possesses a splendid treasure with ivory artifacts from the 11th century
as well as the golden relic-shrine of St. Lambert (donated by Bishop
Everhard van der Marck) and a smaller relic-shrine offered by Duke Charles
the Bold (probably to make up for the destruction and plundering of the city
that he had ordered). Another art treasure: the marble sculpture of 'Christ
in his grave' made by Delcour in 1696.
SAINT
MARTIN (Saint Martin's church)
Bishop
Notger chose Saint Martin as the patron saint of this church from the 10th
century. Saint Martin was the patron of the warriors. Hereby, Notger,
accentuated the military role of the church, which was building on
the old fortifications of the city. The original building was destroyed by
fire in 1291, rebuilt in the 15th century, plundered by the troops of
Charles the Bold and subsequently reconstructed and redecorated. It is,
nevertheless, a nice example of Mosan Gothic style. The beauty of the
choir is highlighted by the decorative ceiling with its many stars (1525).
It was in this church that for the first time 'Sacrament's Day' was
celebrated. This celebration in honour of the Holy Sacrament became an
official celebration in 1264 for all Catholics after it had been recognized
and approved of by Pope Urban IV.
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