The St. Mauritius Church is located directly behind the Bilzen town hall. It is one of the rare hall churches in the region. The interior has been beautifully restored in the neo-Gothic style and tradition. The entire furnishing concept was thought about: the beautiful late Gothic imagery was integrated into baroque elements. The rich neo-Gothic coloring of the stained glass windows and modern paintings is strange and striking. Under the tower, the museum room refers to the connection with the land commander Alden Biesen.
There was already a wooden hall church here in the 8th or 9th century. Later this was transformed into a primitive stone church. Silex chunks, Roman roof tiles and chunks of iron sandstone were used for this. Subsequently, a Romanesque church in flint was built, the aisles of which were extended in the 12th century. In the 15th century this church was replaced by a Gothic building. The choir has been preserved.
From the end of the 16th century, several members of the Von Bocholtz family were buried in the church. In 1636 the church was set on fire by Croatian troops led by Jan van Werth, and in 1654 it was looted by Lorraine troops. However, the church was rebuilt and the tower was completed in 1667. Architect was Frans van Gulpen. The various graves of the Von Bocholtz family were merged under a large tombstone, which was paid for by Grand Commander Edmond Godfried van Bocholtz of the Teutonic Order. That same Grand Commander also donated a new high altar, pulpit and confessionals, all of which were lost in the 19th century. Part of the high altar has been preserved in the Grand Commandery Alden Biezen. It is a painting by Walthère Damery depicting Saint Dominic receiving the rosary from Mary and then presenting it to the Grand Commander. The subject of this painting probably has to do with the foundation in 1661 of the Brotherhood of the Holy Rosary under the leadership of the Maastricht Dominicans.
The church became dilapidated and in 1845 it was rebuilt and restored in the neo-Gothic style, under the architecture of Joseph Dumont. In 1893 a chapel in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes was built on the north side by Mathieu Christiaens, and in 1904 the aisles were demolished and the current church was built, also under the architecture of Mathieu Christiaens. The choir and tower of the original church have been preserved, the arches of the mid-19th century neo-Gothic church have been preserved.
In 1993-1994 the interior of the church was restored and repainted according to a design by J. Roux.
Translated by Google •
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