Saint Trudo
Kerkstraat
3990 Peer
Church | XIV-XVIII | Gothic, Neogothic | Catholic Church
Map
Opening hours
01 January - 31 December
Mon 9.30 - 17.30
Tue 9.30 - 17.30
Wed 9.30 - 17.30
Thu 9.30 - 17.30
Fri 9.30 - 17.30
Sat 9.30 - 17.30
Sun 10.00 - 16.00
Carillon concerts each summer on Sunday evenings.
Info : www.beiaardpeer.be our via toerisme Peer.
Guided tour
toerisme@peer.be +32 11 61 16 02
Religious offices
Description
The history of the Giant of the Campine starts in the year 950 with a humble wooden church. In the 11th century, a stone building arose, traces of which can still be seen in the east wall of the present church. In 1392, the construction of the highest tower of the Limburg Campine was mentioned. The heavy fortified tower was part of the town ramparts. In 1422 the transept was built according to an inscription in the Paradise gate in the south wall.
The tower was a safe haven for the population in times of war. However, on May 13th 1483, 1500 Campine citizens were killed in and around the tower during the fight between G. Van der Marck and Jan van Hornes.
In 1572, following arson by Austrian troops, the gothic church slowly fell into neglect. After that, mutinous Spanish soldiers set the church on fire in 1599, followed by heavy damage in 1654 through the hands of troops from Lorraine. Traces of the fire are still visible as red scorched marl stones in the east wall.
Repairs were executed, but on July 21st 1825 there was a 'midge fire'. Inhabitants of Peer mistook a dense swarm of midges for smoke and started a full scale extinguishing action. Since then, the inhabitants of Peer are called 'midge extinguishers'.
From 1840 to 1905 the extension in neo-gothic style was realised.
On May 10th, 1992 a carillon was hung in place, which was extended in1997 to become the biggest of the country, and on May 15th 1999 it was inaugurated and played in.Each Sunday evening during the summer you can hear and enjoy carillon concerts.
These days, the tower also functions as a museum. On the 2nd floor there is an exhibition of the mechanical motion system of the 1875 tower clock; on the 3rd floor the restaured clock base with the St. Mary clock dating from 1641 can be visited and the 4th floor accomodates the carillon with no less than 64 bells.
KIKIRPA : Photo-library online
See the treasures of this church online on Erfgoed Plus
Photos
Media
Remarkable elements
Stained glass windows in the church
The presbytery holds five stained glass windows from 1913. Each of these windows, painted in deep reds and hues of blue, represent two key figures: Alphonsus and Catharina, Philippus and Petrus, Trudo and Joseph, Goderidus and Matthaeus and last the appearing of the Holy Heart to Margaretha Maria Alacoque. The colors of the windows glow magnificently as the light of the rising sun falls through them.Above the narthex a stained glass window with a representation of Saint-Trudo as an abbot with the armorial bearings of the city of Peer is found. The Holy Trudo lived in Sint-Truiden and did missionary work in the region. This explains his popularity in the whole province of Limburg.
The stained glass windows in the side aisles represent the seven sorrows and seven joys of Mary
Paintings of Louis Hendrix
Two beautiful artworks of the locale painter Louis Hendrix hang on the wall in the presbytery. One of them depicts the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist (2nd part of the 19th century). On the other painting Jezus shows his heart. Both paintings were made on wooden panels. Louis Hendrix was a much sought after religious painter and he was crowned with prestigious prizes more than once. The declining popularity of the neo-gothic style at the end of the 19th century caused Hendrix’ name and fame to sink into oblivion.
Statue Our Lady of seven sorrows
At the back of the church, in the former baptistery, a baroque statue of Mary of seven Sorrows arises. It is a statue used for devotion. The statue was probably made on the occasion of the foundation of the brotherhood of the seven sorrows (1647). The statue stands on an old altar stone found in the left transept during the latest restoration of the interior (2002-2004).
Statues underneath the tower e.g. Jesus on the cold stone
In the space underneath the tower are several centuries-old statues that are worthwhile a closer look.The gorgeous polychromic wooden statue of Jesus on the cold stone dates from the beginning of the 16th century. An exhausted and tortured Christ takes a brief rest on a stone from Golgotha while crucifixion awaits him in the very nearby future. He endures his faith resigned with a look of great sorrow in his eyes while the executioners prepare his crucifixion. The anonymous artist portrayed Jesus as a Jew with the typical Jewish braids. It is a valuable statue, a typical example of its genre.
At the other side you can see Our Holy Lady with Child. This polychromic statue made out of stone dates back to the 15th century. In the other niche at the back are polychromic wooden statues from the beginning of the 18th century and a unique painting from the middle of the 17th century.
Tower with museum
The impressive tower is equipped as a museum. On the first floor visitors can find a nice collection of church treasures such as chasubles, relics, church silverwares, e.g. The second floor is equipped as a museological space with mechanical turret clocks from the church towers of Peer, Linde, Kleine-Brogel and Wijchmaal. Among these mechanical turret clocks a fully restored clock from Peer can be found, this is truly unique in the Flanders! One floor up there is a bronze treasure that pleases music lovers from Peer and surroundings: the carillon.
The carillon
The carillon of Peer is one of the biggest carillons of the world with its 64 different bells and a weight of 17.235 kilograms. The showpiece is the Mater Dolorosa that weighs 3075 kilos and is therefore the biggest bell in the province of Limburg.The carillon was hung at the 10th of May 1992 and expanded in 1997. Carillon concerts are performed whole summer long and the Sint-Trudo church of Peer and surroundings are ideal listening spots for an hour of musical enjoyment.
