Open Churches Days at
Sint-Odulphus

Speelhof 12
3840 Borgloon

Church | XIII-XX | Romanesque | Catholic Church

Disabled access Parking space Pilgrimage site

The history of the Swiss Guard

Conference

01 June 2025 : 15.00 - 16.00

Historian Xavier Lenaers takes you on a fascinating lecture about the Swiss Guard - the imposing orderly in the church. Did you know that Borgloon too once had its own Swiss Guard ? In his stately uniform, complete with sabre, halberd and inverted Napoleon hat, he exuded authority and authority. His task ? Keeping order during mass and making sure everything went according to the rules. In Tongeren, we know Tony Achtergael as the ‘pikman’, but this fascinating figure also played an important role in Borgloon. Want to know more about this intriguing tradition ? Come and listen and discover the stories behind the Swiss Guard !