St. Gertrude in Nivelles

I known, another church but they don’t make them like this any more.

A Romanesque abbey-church dates from the 11th and 12th centuries. It features two transepts, double choir and an impressive western front, incorporating an apse, from which rises an octagonal bell-tower. It represents a late example of the imperial ottonian architectural tradition, itself inherited from the Carolingians. The edifice is built on the site of an abbey founded in the 7th century by Gertrude, one of the daughters of Pepin the Elder. In 1046, the Germanic emperor, Henry Ill removed the relics of St. Gertrude: her tomb may be seen in the crypt. The size of the church is impressive at 100m. in length, 28,5m. in width and 55m. to the summit of the bell-tower. For such inspiring architecture, mainly built with squared rubble masonry of pale limestone with the occasional dressed blocks confined to archways and pillars.Læs mere