SAINT CHRISTOPHER CHURCH

Built in the ^17th century, exactly in 1667, when the French took the town. They erected a garrison chapel dedicated to Saint-Louis. Only one stone remains of this chapel! In the ^18th century, the Baroque church was enlarged and dedicated to Saint Christopher. But once again, the building was bombed by French revolutionary troops in 1794. All that remained was the choir and part of the nave! Partly rebuilt, the church was enlarged in the 1950s. Adjacent alleyways were eliminated, as were the dilapidated small houses. At the same time, the orientation of the church was modified: a new perpendicular axis was added, making the place of worship wider rather than longer. Where the two parts meet, a copper dome rises to a height of 48m. The campanile housing the bells stands 32 m high. Saint-Christophe church is home to a superb 200^m2 gilded glass mosaic depicting the Apocalypse according to Saint John. The only one of its kind in Belgium, it was created by Venetian masters based on drawings by Jean Ransy. Also on display are a superb glass ambo (lectern) and stoup, as well as sconces in the same material, all signed in 2012 by Fleurus-born sculptor Bernard Tirtiaux. While the religious edifice is a genuine little gem with an all-too-familiar interior, it's also worth pointing out that it was never given the title of basilica, contrary to what many Carolos believe. In 2018, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of its restoration.