Saint Martin
Waversesteenweg 1
3090 Overijse
Church | XII - XVIII | Gothic | Catholic Church
Map
Opening hours
01 January - 31 December
Mon 10.00 - 17.00
Tue 10.00 - 17.00
Wed 10.00 - 17.00
Thu 10.00 - 17.00
Fri 10.00 - 17.00
Sat 10.00 - 17.00
Sun 10.00 - 17.00
Guided tour
Religious offices
Description
The protected late Gothic church stands in the centre of Overijse, near the notorious S curve on the old Brussels–Namur road. Its core, including a visitor centre on grape cultivation, is listed heritage. Saint Martin, its patron, is typical of churches founded around 800.
Built in sandstone, the church has a cross-shaped plan. The tower preserves a twelfth century Romanesque core. The choir was rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1489; a second fire in the seventeenth century destroyed much of the village and damaged the remaining parts, later restored. The first fire claimed 300 lives.
A tombstone in the choir leads to the Horne family crypt, with their genealogy and links to Belgian royalty explained in the sacristy. The church also holds the tombstone of Maria Lips, sister of humanist Justus Lipsius, born in Overijse in 1547.
Inside are a sixteenth century stone baptismal font bearing the arms of the lords of Wittem, two bluestone holy water fonts, two baroque side altars in marbled wood and six confessionals. The sandstone altar and oak choir are neo Gothic.
The transepts contain eighteenth and nineteenth century paintings depicting the Supper at Emmaus, the Elevation of the Cross, Saint Helena discovering the True Cross and Our Lady giving the Rosary to Saint Dominic. A statue of Saint Martin in the left transept was donated by Overijse’s First World War veterans.
Behind the main altar, three stained glass windows by J.-B. Capronnier illustrate the life of Saint Martin. A modern window from 1987 by local artist Jean Rigaux stands on the left side of the choir.
Sources :
Inventory Architectural heritage
Local History Society De Beierij van Ijse (www.beierij.be)
Photos
Remarkable elements
Glass window Jean Rigaux with history of Overijse
The first stained glass window in the choir is a modern creation of Jean Rigaux (designed in 1975, placed in 1987). It depicts several scenes and symbols of the history of Overijse. The three big windows behind the altar are made by the great artist Capronnier and represent three events from the life of the patron saint Martin.
Saint Martin
The polychrome wooden statue of Saint Martin was a gift from the veteran association of World War I.
Panelling with confessionals
The wooden panelling with confessionals dates back to 1880.
Crypt of the Princes of Horne
The crypt of the Princes of Horne was opened in 1881 or 1883. A stair with five steps descended into a vaulted room where twelve big and three small lead coffins lay. A big wooden coffin contained the heart (in a lead casing) of Mary-Theresa of Horne and one small coffin was broken. In the sacristy you can see a painted list of the family tree.
Side altar
The baroque side altar in marbled wood, like the one in the other transept, is presumed to be placed there in the first half of the 18th century.
