What a beautiful church. One to walk around completely with clear Romanesque parts. Also the churchyard, the surrounding walls, the steps to the raised churchyard (and church grounds) and the long adjacent wall of the former Vroenhoeve just next to it make a walk around the grounds more than worthwhile for the heritage lover and those who like a different view of a village centre.

A short description: "Of the original late Romanesque three-aisled column basilica from the 12th century, all that remains is the rectangular choir with pointed gable and the transept with absidiole on the north arm. The external decorations in the form of three rows of arches, rare for that time, make this Romanesque church unique. In a niche in the pointed gable of the choir stands one of the oldest Romanesque statues in the region, probably representing a seated bishop. The side aisles date from the 18th century. The neo-Gothic tower from 1838 is by architect Baron de Man. The cemetery wall from 1638 is listed. To the north of the church is the Vroenhoeve, which was dependent on the abbey of Heylissem and dates from the 17th-18th century." You can find this at tienen.be/sint-giliskerk-kumtich

Translated by Google •

January 6, 2025

The file of the heritage specialists:

A columned basilica with three naves of three unequal bays and an integrated west tower.

The eastern parts of the Romanesque church from the 12th century remain: mainly the choir with its remarkable closing wall provided with architectural decoration: three registers enriched with arched friezes of different rhythms, supported by lesenes or colonnettes with sculpted and stylised capitals and corbels.

Gable with three arcades, possibly in imitation of the earlier decoration, with the insertion of a roughly worked bas-relief (bishop or abbot of Saint-Gilles?). The only preserved northern apse is embellished with arcatures; the southern apse idol was demolished for the construction of the modern sacristy, but clear traces have been preserved inside under the plastering.

A small transept, the north and south facades of which retain fairly well-restored traces of arches around the windows. Choir and transept vaulted with cross vaults on the unequal arches; more recent (?) barrel vaults above the transept arms. Imposts of the choir arcade enriched with rosettes. Blind main nave, flanked by side aisles rebuilt in the 18th century.

Neo-Gothic tower and outbuildings from 1838 by Baron de Man (chronogram on the facade). Restoration from 1924 (facade stone in the southern transept arm).

Cemetery around the church

Furniture. Under the rood screen, paintings depicting Saints Peter and Paul (17th century); polychrome Gothic cross in the south aisle (16th century); Mary with the Child (16th century); statues of Saint Gilles including one Gothic (16th century) and the other with a folkloristic slant (18th century) in the north apse; a Saint Sebastian in the beech (18th century).

Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Parish Church of Saint-Gilles, id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/43091

Translated by Google •

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Details

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Elevation 110 m

Weather

Monday 22 December

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Max wind speed: 16.0 km/h

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Location: Tienen, Leuven, Flemish Brabant, Flanders, Belgium

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