Saint Maurice
Markt 1
3740 Bilzen
Church | XV-XX | Neogothic | Catholic Church
Map
Opening hours
01 January - 31 December
Mon 9.00 - 17.00
Tue 9.00 - 17.00
Wed 9.00 - 17.00
Thu 9.00 - 17.00
Fri 9.00 - 17.00
Sat 9.00 - 17.00
Sun 9.00 - 17.00
Guided tour
Religious offices
Saturday 5 pm
Sunday 11 am
Description
This church, founded in the eighth century by the abbey of Munsterbilzen, is dedicated to Saint Maurice and his companions. Its pentagonal choir and several statues date from the Gothic period. After a devastating fire in 1636, the church was rebuilt in Baroque style, and the tower followed in 1667. In 1906 it was enlarged into the hall church seen today, with nave and aisles of equal height and a narrow transept. The interior received neo-Gothic decoration. During the 1995 restoration, late Gothic and Baroque sculptures were integrated into this setting.
Inside, visitors can admire stained glass windows, wooden barrel vaults, monumental gravestones, the Stations of the Cross, and neo-Gothic polychrome paintings. The Brammertz organ dates from the eighteenth century.
At the back stands a statue of Saint Anne, Mary, and the Child Jesus, created between 1520 and 1530 in Liège or the Maasland. Anne wears a widow’s headscarf, while Mary bears a diadem. On the right side of the nave is Saint Barbara, originally from a beguine church in Bilzen and carved by Jan Van Steffensweert. She holds an open book and a three storey tower.
Nearby stands Saint Maurice, patron of the parish, shown as a Roman centurion. He and his companions were martyred at Agaune in Valais.
The van Bocholtz family tombstone, once beneath the high altar, now lies under the tower. Edmond van Bocholtz, Grand Commander of the Teutonic Order, placed his relatives there in 1659. He also appears in a painting by Walthère Daméry showing Saint Dominic receiving the Rosary from Our Lady and handing one to the Commander. The work, linked to the Brotherhood of the Holy Rosary founded in 1661, includes Saint Gregory of Cappadocia holding the Teutonic banner.
KIKIRPA : Photo-library online
See the treasures of this church online on erfgoedplus.be
Photos
Remarkable elements
Sculpture group Virgin and Child with Saint Anne
This group that was created between 1520-1530 in a Maasland or Liège studio, is one of the rare witnesses of this Gothic style. The Christ Child seeks to free himself from the standing Madonna’s embrace, reaching for the grapes that Saint Anne is holding in her right hand, while grabbing at the wing of the dove in Saint Anne’s left hand with his other hand. Mary, who is clearly smaller than Anne, wears a tiara, and Saint Anne a widow’s cap.
Way of the cross
Late 19th century and early 20th century mural by Charles Peeters from Brussels. His neo-Gothic paintings are, just like those by G. Meunier, integrated into a color palette that is based on the tradition by Viollet-le-Duc.
Stained glass windows
In 1893-1984, stained glass windows designed by J. Osterrath, glass painter from the village of Tilff in Liège, were already installed in the choir. However, most of the stained glass windows were only executed after the major renovations of 1904-1905. By the same hand and faithfully adhering to a consistent visual scheme, they form together with the murals by Meunier, a well-preserved, completely neo-Gothic whole.
Box reliquaries
Two box reliquaries in a display case, neo-Gothic (1935), gifts from Dean Paquay to this church. The reliquaries are dedicated to Saint Bernadette Soubirous and Saint John Vianney.
Tombstone of the van Bocholtz family
The van Bocholtz family tombstone, found beneath the high altar, was moved under the tower. In 1659, Edmond van Bocholtz, Grand Commander of the German Order at Alden Biesen, added his relatives to make the church his family burial place. Though buried elsewhere, he appears in a painting where Saint Dominic receives the Rosary from Our Lady and hands one to him, with Saint Gregory the Illuminator holding the Teutonic banner.
Brammertz organ
Organ from 1709 by Brammertz, thoroughly renovated in 1849 by Van Dinter, and restored again in 1876 by M. Peerenboom from Maastricht city, and in 1999 by Nijs & Sons from the town of Nieuwerkerken based on a design by Spectrum Hasselt.
Sources:
De Sint-Mauritiuskerk van Bilzen, uitgave Kerkfabriek Sint-Mauritius, 2008.
Beheersplan Onroerend Erfgoed (2020).
Nearby
Circuit
Rulers and saints around Alden Biesen
Religious heritage around Alden Biesen (cycle route 1) - This route leads you past the mighty land commandery of Alden Biesen and the abbey of Munsterbilzen. Discover what traces their influential rulers left behind in the area.
In the footsteps of the priest
Rulers and saints, religious heritage around Alden Biesen (car tour 1) - Less sporty? Or is it raining cats and dogs? We have connected the most interesting sights with a route adapted to the car (in Dutch).
