Saint-Julien
Rue de Pintamont
7800 Ath
Church | XIV-XIX | Gothic | Catholic Church
Map
Opening hours
01 January - 31 December
Mon 8.00 - 18.00
Tue 8.00 - 18.00
Wed 8.00 - 18.00
Thu 8.00 - 18.00
Fri 8.00 - 18.00
Sat 8.00 - 18.00
Sun 8.00 - 18.00
Religious offices
Monday till Friday : 8.30 am
Sunday : 11 am
Description
Saint Julien’s church holds an important place in the patrimony dear to Ath’s inhabitants, primarily because on the 4th Sunday in August every year the “ducasse” , the symbolic marriage of the giants, Goliath, is held.
The building was erected at the end of the 14th, beginning of the 15th centuries in Gothic style. From this period, the large tower, the apse of the choir and the beautiful West portal still exists.
After a fire in 1817, the interior was rearranged in neo-Classical style. Noteworthy is the remarkable decoration of the choir in trompe d’oeil and the four 19th century paintings hanging on the side walls depicting scenes from the New Testament. The church also has the casket reliquary of Saint Julien.
One can listen to a beautiful carillon of 3 octaves and 41 bells.
Photos
Media
Remarkable elements
Stalls and Stations of the Cross
The stalls and the Way of the Cross are the work of the Brussels sculptor Jean-François Malfait.
Pulpit of truth
A neo-classical pulpit and various sculptures form the religious furniture together with the brass lectern dating from 1723.
Reliquary
The reliquary of Saint Julien de Brioude dates from the 18th century.
Statue of Saint Julien de Brioude
Saint Julien de Brioude (3rd century) is a martyr of the Catholic Church. A Roman soldier converted to Christianity, he is said to have been martyred in 304. The statuary represents him, in a traditional way, as a Roman soldier holding in one hand the palm of martyrdom and in the other the instrument of torture, the sword.
Paintings
Several paintings by Athenian painter Julien Ducorron and Lambert Mathieu (1804-1861).
Carillon
The presence of a carillon is attested in 1481. A certain Jean Godefroid plays there in 1486. In 1520, it had a dozen bells. Destroyed in 1817, it was reconstituted and inaugurated on August 23, 1953. Only one bell is preserved, cast by G. Witlock in 1714. Equipped with 43 bells, it was completed in 1981 and in 2000, to bring the number of bells to 49. Carillon concerts are organized every summer. Since 1994, the Academy of Music of Ath provides courses for carillonneurs.
