KOEKELBERG BASILICA

The Koekelberg hill is crowned by the Basilica, an immense edifice whose dome can be seen from a great distance. The people of Brussels never really took it seriously, and for too long it was unfortunately considered one of the city's unsightly achievements by its inhabitants. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart, its official name, is now gradually being rehabilitated by public opinion. The fifth largest church in the world, it is one of a series of sanctuaries for the expiation of sins, such as the Sacré-Coeur in Paris or the Basilica in Cambridge. Leopold II had intended it to be Gothic, but the project was modified before construction. The plans (at least in theory) mimicked the Parisian Sacré-Coeur, and the style, entirely representative of its era, was ultimately Art Deco. Concrete, rather than cut stone, was the basic material, covered inside with yellow-ochre terracotta and outside with pink bricks. If you've never strolled through an immense modern religious vessel, a visit is a must! In fact, the Koekelberg Basilica is the largest Art Deco church in the world. The upper gallery not only houses photos of the basilica's construction, but also features a showcase displaying some of the building materials, a gallery of temporary exhibitions (see website), the Cardinal Danneels space, which permanently exhibits works by South Korean artist and ecclesiastic Kim En Joong (including three stained glass windows placed in 2017). There's also a ^1/40 scale model by architect Albert Van Huffel, who won first prize in the 1925 Paris Concours des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels. Note the ten side chapels retained in the project: nine for the nine original Belgian provinces and one for the Congo... The upper gallery features a photo exhibition on the construction of the basilica and the materials used. An elevator then takes you up to a panoramic outdoor terrace, offering what is undoubtedly the finest view of Brussels and the surrounding area. On a clear day, you can even see the tower of Mechelen Cathedral, 20 km away. Six orientation tables help visitors to locate the monuments and sites in view. For the more courageous, an additional 250 steps lead up to the 89-metre-high dome. The effect is guaranteed! The ticket includes admission to the Museum of the Black Sisters (open on Wednesdays only) and the Museum of Modern Religious Art, both inside the basilica.