Church of Our Lady of the Visitation, Essene

The Village Church O-L-V-visitation was originally a castle church from the 12th century. The tower was rebuilt in 1664. Places of interest include the listed and restored Van Peteghem organ, a painting by Theodoor Van Thulden (1606-1669), a student from Rubens' school. The annual St. Anthony's celebration takes place in and around the church (on Sunday January 17 or the following Sunday). This celebration is accompanied by the sale of pig heads. There is a war memorial with, among others, Frans Neukermans, one of the first casualties on May 10, 1940 at the capture of Fort Eben-Emael.

The building was planned on a hill and was surrounded by a cemetery. In broad outline it is a neoclassical building of brick and natural stone. It includes a built-in west tower with an early Gothic core from the 13th or 14th century. The nave is three-aisled with a choir of two bays with a three-sided apse. A sacristy was built on the north and south sides.
The square west tower made of sandstone is supported by short buttresses. The pointed arch sound holes contain sound boards (13th or 14th century) and the slate-covered spire is constricted.
A statue of Saint Anthony by André Dumont stands at the church.
(Wikipedia)