Church of Our Lady

Parish Church of Our Lady and Saint John Baptiste
The neo-gothic church of Our Lady and Saint-John-Baptist, built in 1877-1880 to a design by architect A. Van Assche, implanted on the historic site of the old church, which rose to the 12th century, forms the core of the former village of Sint-Maria-Leerne, created on the old road and stone road of Gent-Deinze-Tielt. Especially the historical and spatial context due to its location at the beginning of the Ooidonkdreef in the vicinity of the historic castle partly determine the exceptional value of the church building. (inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/erfgoedobvragen/38118)

The church features neo-gothic furniture that was largely donated by the castle lords.

The churches of Sint-Martens-Leerne and Sint-Maria-Leerne are located just 700 meters apart. According to popular tradition, the very close churches were founded by two brothers (or sisters) who could not agree on the location of their church and therefore each had one church built.
Source: Heritage Inventory