The Most Beautiful Churches In Belgium

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The Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal, or the Cathedral of Our Lady, is a stunning example of Brabantine Gothic architecture, and its belfry tower is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. Points of interest include its bundled pillars, the western tympanum depicting the Last Ordeal, and four paintings by Peter Paul Rubens which can be viewed inside the cathedral.

The small Basilica of the Holy Blood is a real showstopper in Bruges. Originally the private chapel to the Count of Flanders, the Basilica houses a relic allegedly containing the blood of Christ. The Neo-Gothic interior, with its stained glass windows and colorful murals, are absolutely beautiful.

Located in Namur, the Eglise Saint Loup is one of the most important Baroque churches in Belgium. With its distinctive black and pale red marble pillars, it made quite the impression on French poet Charles Baudelaire, who described it as ‘un terrible et délicieux catafalque’ (a formidable and delicious coffin) and collapsed upon exiting the church (brought on by his having contracted syphilis).

Originally a wooden chapel, the Cathedral of Saint Bavo was expanded in the Romanesque style in the 11th century, and subsequently expanded in the Gothic style throughout the 14th and 16th centuries. Points of interest include the imposing Baroque high altar, as well as the ‘Adoration of the Mystic Lamb’ by Hubert and Jan Van Eyck, which can be viewed inside a separate chapel for 4€.

Having taken around 300 years to build, the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula is actually a co-cathedral with St. Rumbold’s Cathedral in Mechelen. The architecture is a mix of French Gothic and Brabantine Gothic; the altar is Baroque. Due to its importance and its location in the capital, it is often used for important Catholic ceremonies such as royal marriages and state funerals.

With its distinctive transept characterized by a cluster of five bell towers and semi-circular ends, the Cathedral of Our Lady in Tournai is another UNESCO World Heritage site. It is one of the biggest churches in Belgium and an important forerunner of the Romanesque architectural style. You can also admire one of Peter Paul Rubens’s paintings in the church, and the reliquary box or châsse of Our Lady is considered one of the seven wonders of Belgium.

Constructed in the Ottonian style around 992, the Collegiate Church of St. Gertrude in Nivelles is an imposing construction that puts you in mind of a castle. The western avant-corps in particular distinguishes the church because of its height and Romanesque, octagonal bell tower.

Originally intended to have a 77-meter spire, the St. Rumbold’s Cathedral in Mechelen holds the seat of the Archdiocese along with the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels. The distinctively flat tower is visited by thousands of tourists every year, and students from around the world come to study at the Royal Carillon School – the first and largest of its kind, where pupils are trained in the art of ringing church bells.

One of the most beautiful churches in Brussels, Our Blessed Lady of the Sablon has a late Brabantine Gothic exterior and a richly decorated interior featuring two magnificent Baroque chapels. Originally a small chapel built in thanks by the Crossbow Guild, it was rebuilt into its later form around the turn of the 15th century.

A less conventional choice, the church constructed by Gijs Van Vaerenbergh is perhaps not a church in the traditional sense of the word, but it pays homage to the typical parochial church and questions the traditional function of a church. In any case, visitors will definitely experience a sense of awe, as the church is completely see-through from certain angles, blending into the landscape in a mesmerizing manner.