Maria Hemelvaart
Dorpsstraat
3020 Winksele (Herent)
Church | XII | Romanesque | Catholic Church
Map
Opening hours
01 April - 31 October
Mon -
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
01 November - 31 March
Mon -
Tue 10.00 - 16.00
Wed 10.00 - 16.00
Thu 10.00 - 16.00
Fri 10.00 - 16.00
Sat 10.00 - 16.00
Sun 10.00 - 16.00
Guided tour
+32 16 48 02 20
Religious offices
Description
The church of Winksele dates back to the 12th century. Both the square, sandstone tower and Roman nave were built in that period. The large, Gothic choir was added at the end of the 13th century.
The building was thoroughly renovated in the 17th century: the nave got an arbor, Gothic arches and lancet windows. The southern side isle was pulled down and on the north side a transept was built. At the end of the 18th century a sacristy and a rood loft with an organ were added to the church.
Winksele used to be a well known pilgrimage site: the mentally ill came to beg for healing at the beautiful, polychrome statue of Our Lady (ca. 1400). Next to the church you could find a ‘Dullenhuis’, a place where pilgrims were taken in and cared for. Later the building was pulled down and the stones were reused for the cemetery wall.
Another show piece is the Gothic Calvary: a crucified Christ is flanked by his mother and Saint-John (ca.1500). Also note the restored statues of Saint-Anne selbdritt (ca. 1600) and Saint-Roch (1649).
Most of the furniture dates back to the 17th and 18th century: the font, the choir stalls, the pulpit with canopy and stairs in rococo style, the communion rail in Louis XV style and the confessional.
Also look up to the ceiling in the choir. The fan vault has three figurative keystones, representing a pelican with its boy, the Lamb of God and a warrior in combat with Satan.
A brochure with the history of the church is available.
Photos
Media
Remarkable elements
Indoors
Most of the furniture dates back to the 17th and 18th century: the font, the choir stalls, the pulpit with canopy and stairs in rococo style, the communion rail in Louis XV style and the confessional. Another show piece is the Gothic Calvary: a crucified Christ is flanked by his mother and Saint-John (ca.1500). Also note the restored statues of Saint-Anne selbdritt (ca. 1600) and Saint-Roch (1649). Also look up to the ceiling in the choir. The fan vault has three figurative keystones, representing a pelican with its boy, the Lamb of God and a warrior in combat with Satan. A brochure with the history of the church is available.
Tower
The sandstone tower originally had a defensive purpose. It could only be accessed through the church itself and contained several loopholes. Around the year 1520 it was further embellished with big round arched windows, a winding staircase and a vaulted ceiling. A vestibule was added, decorated with Romanesque capitals and corbels. This vestibule bears resemblance to the well-known Roman Gate in Louvain and is just as beautiful.
Gothic choir
Also make sure to look up in the choir. The fan vault has three figurative keystones, depicting a pelican with its young, the Lamb of God and a warrior fighting Satan. The Early-Gothic choir was built near the end of the 13th century and has tall windows and colonettes decorated with capitals. The structure and harmonious look of the choir bear reference to the choir in the ‘Predikheren’ church of Louvain. In the 19th century the choir was thoroughly renovated and fitted with nine new Neo-Gothic glass windows from the hand of Arthur Verhaegen.
