The Church St Nicolas of Brussels, part II !

Posted in Europe, France

In our trips to Brussels, we discovered many things, many are very popular, after all a popular tourist destination. However, some are less popular but the impact is bigger , unique, historical, and I like history. I have mentioned it in  my many previous blog posts on Brussels but never a page for itself, which it merits. And again, found me older pictures new to the blog which should be in. Therefore, here is my take again on the Church of Saint Nicolas of Brussels ,part II ! It is by rue de la Beurre surrounded by wooden old houses in a residential area. Hope you enjoy the post as I.

Bru ch st nicolas veneration saint dec12

The Church Saint. Nicolas, built around 1125, is one of the first four churches of the city of Brussels and best preserved in its successive developments. Being close to the Bourse’s palace (stock exchange), it is commonly called Saint-Nicolas de la Bourse or Saint-Nicolas-au-Marché ,of the Market.  Close to the Senne river, Saint-Nicolas was the oratory of the district of the merchants and those whose activities depended on the small river port. Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myre, is the Patron Saint of the merchants. Built in 1125, the church was still dependent on the Chapel of Saint-Michel parish in 1174.

Bru ch st nicolas main altar dec12

Of the Romanesque church of the 12C, there remain some remains in the entrance porch, discovered during the reconstruction of the facade in 1956. This Romanesque church had a tower-shaped front, of which it is mentioned in 1289. This tower housed the city bells and was therefore the belfry of Brussels. The choir is the oldest surviving dating from 1381. The Chapel of Notre-Dame de la Paix, an extension of the left aisle of the nave, was added in 1486.

Bru ch st nicolas virgin mary candles dec12

There are many paintings of masters adorning the walls of the church such as a Virgin and the Child of a disciple of Rubens.  Also, Vladimir Icon of St Nicolas, painted in 1131 by an artist from Constantinople. Works by Jean van Orley , Guillaume Herreyns , G. Kerricks, and others. The confessionals, the grille and the choir stalls 18C are other works of art. The most recent work is a modern-style glass roof , the Assumption of the Virgin ,created by Guy Chabrol on the occasion of the restoration of the church in 1956. It is installed above the entrance portal. 

Bru ch st nicolas chapel saint and eagle dec12

The Saint Nicolas Church was closed in 1797, then sold in 1799, during the French revolutionary period.  There was talk of demolishing it, but it was bought by the former factory masters, then returned to worship in 1804. It was here that the Brabant painter, Michael Sweerts, was baptized in 1618.

The Brussels Tourist office on the church’s location:  https://www.visit.brussels/en/visitors/venue-details.Eglise-Saint-Nicolas.244129

The Heritage Collection of Brussels on the church :https://collections.heritage.brussels/fr/institutions/63

There you go folks, a dandy in nice Brussels. The area is nice surrounded by architecture and history to boot Again ,hope you enjoy the post on the Church Saint Nicolas as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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