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Marche-En-Famenne

Durbuy

Saint Nicholas Church

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Places to see

Belgium

Wallonia

Wallonie

Marche-En-Famenne

Durbuy

Saint Nicholas Church

Recommended by 96 hikers out of 100

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Location: Durbuy, Marche-En-Famenne, Wallonie, Wallonia, Belgium

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3. Durbuy Old Town and Castle – The Anticline loop from Durbuy

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Tips

🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

November 14, 2021

The current parish church of Durbuy, located on the right bank of the Ourthe, below the Count's castle, opposite the famous rock fold of Omalius, used to be the sanctuary of a religious community: the Recolletten.

In the 17th century, Laurent le Jeune, dean of the collegiate church in Maastricht, built the convent of the Recolletten on his father's property, which he donated to the church. It was the King of Spain, Philip IV, who gave him the green light to begin the works. Thirteen years later, in 1642, the church was consecrated and dedicated to the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist.

The church of the Recolletten only became that of the inhabitants of Durbuy in 1810, after the monastic community was dissolved and after the demolition of the old, too dilapidated parish church. She took her name and became the Sint-Niklaaskerk.

The 39-meter-long limestone building mixes different architectural styles. The Gothic nave (1630), the classical choir (1766) and the neo-Gothic roofs (completed in 1845) form a harmonious whole and mark the different transformation periods of the church.

Inside, apart from the traces of an arched vault under the roof, there are no longer any elements of the original construction.

Today, St Nicholas' Church is a well-maintained church that is an unmissable stop for tourists strolling the cobbled streets of the world's smallest town, or for those enjoying a round of mini golf nearby. A religious service is held daily and various activities are organized regularly.

Source: openchurches.eu/nl/bedrijven/saint-nicolas-durbuy

Translated by Google •

Katrien

February 10, 2022

This church was built in 1630 and consecrated in 1643.

At that time it was built for the convent of the Récollets.

Translated by Google •

August 8, 2025

The church, which stands today, was built in two phases: the nave dates from 1642 and the choir from 1774. It was originally the monastery church of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor, the Recollects (Récollets, in Latin Ordo Fratrum Minorum Recollectorum).

They were brought to Durbuy by the Antwerp-born military commander Antonie Schetz, Baron van Grobbendonck, who served the Spanish during the Eighty Years' War and leased the Durbuy estate and castle in 1628 for 40,000 gold marks, as you can read at komoot.com/nl-nl/highlight/7336847

As Herwig mentions, the church was donated to the city as a parish church when the original church was in ruins.

On the side of the church (facing the street), you can see some old gravestones of historical importance, a water pump, and the former base of the cross on the nearby bridge over the Ourthe River.

The church is quite simple inside, partly due to its location within a monastic setting. It is, however, open to the public.

At the church entrance, Rue des Récollets, named after the order, begins, where you can still see original parts of the monastery. See komoot.com/nl-nl/highlight/5594796

At the entrance (outside), you'll find additional information, including some history of Durbuy and the church, with old illustrations.

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 150 m

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Wednesday 17 September

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Max wind speed: 13.0 km/h

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Take Me There

Location: Durbuy, Marche-En-Famenne, Wallonie, Wallonia, Belgium

Saint Nicholas Church

1. Ourthe River at Barvaux – The Anticline loop from Durbuy

2. The Anticline – Durbuy Old Town and Castle loop from Bohon

3. Durbuy Old Town and Castle – The Anticline loop from Durbuy

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