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Church of Saint Mary Magdalene

Church of Saint Mary Magdalene

Highlight • Religious Site

Church of Saint Mary Magdalene

Name: Church of Saint Mary Magdalene
Rating: 2

Recommended by 7 hikers

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

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Best Hikes to Church of Saint Mary Magdalene

4.3

(13)

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1. De Beekhoeve – Church of Saint Mary Magdalene loop from Neerlanden

9.69km

02:30

50m

40m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

4.4

(7)

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2. Brasserie De Rietgors – Hay meadow in De Beemden loop from Velm

22.3km

05:47

130m

Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Expert

4.4

(5)

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3. Path Along the Dormaalbeek – Hay meadow in De Beemden loop from Landen

6.80km

01:45

30m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

Tips

March 12, 2025

On a hill, dominating the entire village, is the Saint Mary Magdalene Church (former Saint Aldegondis Church), built in two major construction phases in 1659 and 1760. The church possibly goes back to a wooden chapel from the 10th or 11th century.

The brick and natural stone volume with slate roof is composed of a built-in western tower with flanking annexes, a nave of three bays, a deep choir ending in a blind, polygonal apse and a high sacristy on the east side.

The sacristy and choir in late Gothic style were built in 1659 during the abbacy of Winand de la Margelle (1642-1664). The choir on a limestone plinth is supported by buttresses and opened up by three round-arched window openings in a frame with alternating use of brick and natural stone. The busy rhythm with bacon layers is again included in the two-storey sacristy. This is built in traditional brick and sandstone style with stepped gable and cross windows.

The nave and west tower were built a century later in 1760 under abbot Louis-Ernest de Leefdaal (1743-1766), who also had the abbey farm completely renovated. The simple, predominantly brick-built nave on a quartzite plinth is punctuated by flat pilasters and high round-arched windows. The walls show traces of a red painting. The massive, squat west tower is openwork with a bluestone portico: a round-arched doorway carries a heavy projecting, trapezoidal keystone and profiled imposts, set in a rectangular frame, above which is a profiled arched pediment with the abbot's coat of arms in the centre. The low annexes under a lean-to roof receive light via a laterally placed window in a bluestone segmental arch frame.

The two construction phases are also clearly visible in the interior. The choir is vaulted with cross-ribbed vaults on corbels, with the abbot's coat of arms on one of the vault keys. The nave is punctuated by wall pilasters that support the belt arches of the vault. The church floor consists mainly of black natural stone tiles. An older strip of white-black tiles has been preserved along the side walls. The west portal has a beautiful Louis XV interior door from the third quarter of the 18th century.

Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Parish Church of Saint Mary Magdalene, id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/43417

Translated by Google •

March 12, 2025

The church is surrounded by the churchyard, the walls of which were recently completely renovated. On that occasion, the entrance to the church was also moved to the south side. As can be clearly seen from old photographs, the original entrance was on the west side. Here was a steep staircase flanked by bluestone pilasters with an iron railing that connected directly to the church portal. This staircase was preserved in situ, but is hidden from view by soil accumulations.

In addition to a number of iron grave crosses, two remarkable bluestone grave crosses have been preserved in the churchyard: namely that of Lambert Everaert (+1630) against the north wall of the choir and that of Jan Lowet (+1767), his wife Maria Vrancken (+1754) and Deo-Datus Van Herck (+1749), lying on the ground nearby. Two other grave crosses of the same type (according to the inventory of the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage) were said to have been buried under earth during levelling works.

Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Parish Church of Saint Mary Magdalene, id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/43417

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 110 m

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Wednesday 5 November

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Max wind speed: 19.0 km/h

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

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Church of Saint Mary Magdalene

1. De Beekhoeve – Church of Saint Mary Magdalene loop from Neerlanden

2. Brasserie De Rietgors – Hay meadow in De Beemden loop from Velm

3. Path Along the Dormaalbeek – Hay meadow in De Beemden loop from Landen

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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