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Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Geboorte basiliek

Culture and heritage

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Opening hours

01/01/2019 - 31/12/2020

Mon-Sun 10:00-17:00

Contact information

+32 12 23 14 17 +32 478 53 04 67 albert.boulet@gmail.com www.tongeren.be

Location

Stadhuisplein 10 bus z/n, 3700 TONGEREN

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Begijnhofkerk - Begijnhofkerk

The church of the Béguinage

This late Romanesque - early Gothic church boasts a rare and magnificent series of 38 murals and pillar paintings dating back to the 13th-17th centuries. Together with the oldest complete church organ in existence in Belgium (by Christian Ancion, 1644), these paintings amount to an impressive piece of world heritage.

Museumkerk Oud-Rekem - 2

Museumchurch ´Oud Rekem`

The main building on the Groenplaats is the baroque Sint-Pieterskerk. In 1704, Count Ferdinand d’Aspremont-Lynden of Reckheim signed an agreement with the Bishop of Liège, stating that he was allowed to demolish the parish church on the castle estate, provided that he would build a new one elsewhere.

A number of farms on the Groenplaats were expropriated to free up space for the construction of a new church. Work commenced that same year. However, the count did not keep his promise. As soon as the choir and part of the nave were ready, he stopped the works due to lack of money. The actual reason was an old feud between the clergy and the count family.

The church remained unfinished until 1722, the year in which pastor Maghin was appointed pastor van Rekem. The latter was very pleased that Countess Antonia, a sister of Count Ferdinand, was prepared to intervene financially, so that the construction work could be resumed. Unfortunately, the church was not spared from disaster afterwards. In 1755 a fire broke out in the small town of Reckheim and together with 21 houses the church partially burned down. After the difficult start of 1704, the church now remained as a ruin until it was put back into use in 1774.

Because the church became too small years later due to the increasing number of parishioners from Rekem and Visé, a larger church was built in 1956 in the Kleinveld. After being the center of Rekem's parochial life for two centuries, the old parish church was taken over by the city council in the same year to be converted into a museum.

Under the motto "church becomes church again", the interior was restored to its original form and after a thorough restoration in 2015, it can now be admired in all its glory.

Nieuw Administratief Centrum (NAC) - NAC

NAC (New Administration Center)

In Houthalen-Helchteren the past goes hand in hand with the future. As symbols of two major periods, they stand out over our community: the pit heads and the New Administrative Centre (NAC), which has even made it onto the list of ‘100 places in the world that you just have to see’.

This futuristic and at the same time sober, ecological and extremely functional building is located on the old mining site and houses among others the municipal services, the OCMW (Social Service Department), the library, VVV-Toerisme and the police. The observation point on the roof of the building's blue tower, an artistic spot with an extensive view over this community and the region, is called ‘het Oog van Daubechies’ ('the eye of Daubechies').

This tower is named after a resident of Houthalen-Helchteren: Ingrid Daubechies. In the stairway enclosure you will find more information on her brilliant and famed mathematical formulas.

De Heilige Barbara - beeld

Saint Barbara

Since the spring of 2013 C-mine has boasted an additional attraction. St Barbara, patron saint of the mineworkers, once again observes visitors to the site from a niche in the front of the mine building. Ghent artist Sofie Muller burned the head of a nineteenth-century sculpture to symbolize both the mineworkers and the torture inflicted upon Barbara. Interestingly, it was the people of Genk who purchased the sculpture by investing in Barbara shares. To find out all about this extraordinary woman, scan the QR code under the image!

Mijnkathedraal Sint-Albertuskerk - Mijnkathedraal zwartberg

Zwartberg Mine Cathedral

One of the nicest examples of architecture from Genk's mining past is the mine cathedral. Be sure to have a walk inside, as it was designed by Henri Lacoste, one of the leading architects of his time.

Go back to the golden years of the mines. In those days the mining companies in Limburg had churches built in all the cities. You immediately understand why they were given the name 'cathedral'. They are true giants. The majority are made of brick, with the exception of the Winterslag cathedral, which is made of natural stone.

What you need to make sure you see in Zwartberg mine cathedral are the crystal stained glass windows by Val-Saint-Lambert. These are not the usual glass in lead, but massive chunks of coloured crystal. As a result, people from Genk also call the mine cathedral 'the church with 7,000 sparkling crystals'.

Tuinwijk Zwartberg - Tuinwijk Zwartberg

Zwartberg City Garden

The garden city – often referred to as a ‘cité’ - built in Zwartberg was a copy of the garden suburb in Seraing [Province of Liège]. The plan consisted of a circular ‘square’ - Place Cockerill - with a statue of industrialist John Cockerill. This was the Cité-Noord (North) where the mine’s executives had their houses. There was a clear hierarchy between the Cité-Noord and the Cité-Zuid (South), which consisted of small workers’ houses. They all had a garden, of course, because garden suburbs had to earn their name! The two cités were separated by a railway line.

Casino Modern - Casino Modern Waterschei

Casino Modern

Don’t be mistaken, Casino Modern has nothing in common with Casino Royale. You will not find any roulette or poker tables here. The ‘casinos’ built by the mine managers served as community buildings and meeting houses of the mining region. Casino Modern is nowadays a theatre with boxes and a foyer and a workshop for visual artists (FLACC). The building also features a café and an exhibition space.

Heilig-Hartkerk - 1

Sacred Heart Church (Heilig Hartkerk)

Sacred Heart Church was built on the initiative of industrialist and art collector Baron Evence Coppée between 1921 and 1925 and consecrated in 1925. Architect Blomme borrowed elements from different styles for the brick church. The church tower has a distinctive pear-shaped spire. The church furnishings combine eighteenth and nineteenth-century elements. The doorway is framed by a double round arch which is very much in keeping with the houses in the mining city’s garden suburb. The stained glass representing the life of Christ and the martyrdom of St Barbara is also noteworthy. See if you can find this patron saint of the mineworkers. She keeps an eye on Ghent artist Raf Mailleux’s mine workers’ sculpture from a niche in the façade.

Het vroegere hospital ('t kliniekske) - 1

The former Hospital

Het Kliniekske was originally a boarding house. In 1922 the directors of the mine turned it into a hospital known as Sint-Elisabethkliniek, where injured miners could count on fast and reliable treatment. In 1970 the local authorities purchased the building from NV Cockerill. Today Het Kliniekske is a vibrant community centre where socio-cultural organizations rent an office and/or a club room. So if you would like to join a wine guild, a Turkish association or some other club, you have some twenty to choose from!

C-mine expeditie gezinsspel 'Waar is Cyriel?' - C-mine expeditie

Fun treasure hunt 'Where's Cyriel?'

Who is Cyriel? What did he do in Winterslag mine? And where is Cyriel now? You will find the answers to all these questions during this fun game. Hold on tight, as you will dive below ground in the corridors of the C-mine expedition, no less than 6 metres deep!

You will gather tips through a range of activity tasks. They will allow you to find the answer to the question 'Where's Cyriel?' Unravel the mystery and - who knows - you might just win a medal for your performance!

The game is played in the C-mine expedition and is suitable for children aged 6 to 12 years. (only in Dutch)

Museum van de Mijnwerkerswoning - museum van de mijnwerkerswoning

Museum van de Mijnwerkerswoning

The Museum of the miner's House is in the heart of the old garden district around the former pit Limburg Maas. The double House was built in 1925 and is a fine example of the English ' garden city-architecture '.

Het Kerkje van Guvelingen - kerkje van Guvelingen

Het Kerkje van Guvelingen

Belevingscentrum Abdijsite Herkenrode - Herkenrode

Experience Centre Abdijsite Herkenrode

Experience 600 years of history highlighting the presence of women at Herkenrode.

The Experience Centre focuses on the abbey's story, with a chronological journey through the fascinating 600-years history of Herkenrode, highlighting the presence of the women, and the periods of prosperity and decline. Their story comes to life thanks to the audio guide "In the Abbess's own words". Immerse yourself in the magnificent past of this women's abbey. Experience and explore their lives!

Carnavalsmuseum - carnavalmuseum

Carnavalsmuseum

The carnival museum shows the history of the carnival in Maasmechelen again. The scope and variety of this collection is reflected in the displayed attributes, pictures, posters, pictures and beautiful costumes.

Sint-Barbarakerk - Sint-Barbarakerk

Saint Barbara church

The parish church was built by the order of Saint Barbara the mine company and was designed by architect Auguste Van nieuwenborg from Uccle. It is dedicated to Saint Barbara, patron saint of the miners. the Church was built in neo-Gothic style as a building filled with brick walls of reinforced skeleton show. The Church is 56 metres long and has a 53 metre high tower. The red and blue in the beautiful stained glass Windows was initiated on the red and blue in the glass windows of the Cathedral of Chartres.
The Saint Barbara Church is only accessible at Eucharist celebrations or with guide. This is the Foundation to book through Heritage Eagle

Kerk van Wilderen met bezoekerscentrum in toren - Kerk van Wilderen

Kerk van Wilderen met bezoekerscentrum in toren

Landbouwmuseum "de Nostalgie" - Landbouwmuseum

Landbouwmuseum "de Nostalgie"

The aim of the farming "nostalgia" is to go back in time and get acquainted with the hard, everyone back but also beautiful peasant life of the past. Even ordinary life was in the museum portrayed. Who knows how to separate the wheat from the chaff, how they milked cows or tractors which there is reason in the field? Some things that Ivo Smeets has found are recognizable but forget others, even of the 19th century.

Molen Nieuw Leven - Molen Nieuw leven

Molen Nieuw Leven

Mill "new life" is a half open standard mill dating from 1801 who belonged to the domain property of the family Vilain XIIII. In 1920, the mill property of the coal mine E and still later the mill was purchased by the municipality of Maasmechelen. She was already in 1945 as a monument protected and belonged to the oldest windmill type. The mill was thoroughly restored In 1995. Miller Albert Venn keeps the mill running.

Ursulakapel - Ursulakapel

Ursulakapel

Lakenmakerstoren - Lakenmakerstoren nieuw

Lakenmakerstoren

Klank- en lichtspel Bilzen Mysteries: Het Verhaal - campagnebeeld

Bilzen Mysteries

A captivating sound and light promenade

Relive the rich history of the Grand Commandery Alden Biesen during a night-time multimedia walk packed with surprises. A feast for the senses, unique in Belgium!

With a tablet in your hand and headphones on your ears, you make an unprecedented multimedia journey through 800 years of history of the Teutonic Order.

From the Brethren Knights on crusade, over dancing nymphs in the romantic Temple of Minerva, to a devastating fire ... Immerse yourself in the enchanting scenery of Alden Biesen and a fascinating story based on true events.

Christus Koningkerk - Chirstus Koningkerk

Church of Christ the King

The Church of Christ the King, a so-called ‘mine cathedral’, is located in the garden suburb of Waterschei, near Waterschei coal mine. The colliers would come here to pray for their safe return and to seek comfort when a fellow miner failed to do so. The church was designed by Gaston Voutquenne and built between 1935 and 1936. It is a yellow brick cruciform church with a distinctive tall, slender tower crowned with a dome. The concrete skeleton has anchored the church, like the headframes, in the landscape for many years.

Standbeeld "De Putmannen" - Standbeeld de Putmannen

Standbeeld "De Putmannen"

The Putmannen ' is the name of the monument that shows off on the church square in tribute to the 251 miners who perished in the mine of Eastwood, during (or because of) their work. It is a design of the Eisdense artist Vandana Gandhi. He designed a hollow, rectangular column on a low pedestal, with two open walls, which a passage, port or elevator cage ' create ' with a glass floor above a deep ' put '. Referring to the mine; the surface.

Château de la Motte

Moated complex in a tree-filled park. Now a 19th century castle in an eclectic
style. The castle farm has been rebuilt in neogothic style.

Museumapotheek Oud-Rekem - 2

Museumpharmacy

At the Groenplaats in Oud-Rekem, the most beautiful village in Flanders, there is an attractive building from 1820. Part of this building is furnished as a museum pharmacy with a doctor's cabinet. It was once the private pharmacy of a doctor who made his own medicine. At the time, a doctor was also a surgeon, dentist, gynecologist and even coroner.

You will not only see shelves full of pots filled with products from the 19th century, but you will even find an original delivery chair, delivery bars and coroner material in the doctor's old office. Continue your way under the guidance of an experienced guide and discover a collection of glass stones and pots, scales, measuring and mixing cups, medical books and so on!

We owe the original state of this to the Humblé family, which housed the drugstore annex pharmacy from the 19th century. In 1891 there came a doctor's practice from Dr Gerard Humblé. His son, Dr. Fans Humblé, continued the practice until 1970. In 1985 the content of the practice was transferred to VZW Renovatie Rekem.

Kapel en Kluis van O.-L.-V van Loreto te Bolderberg - Kluis en kapel van Bolderberg

Kapel en Kluis van O.-L.-V van Loreto te Bolderberg

Archeologisch park de Rieten - Volg de 26 stapstenen ... en keer terug naar 450 jaar voor Christus.

Archeologisch park de Rieten

Proef- en Vormingscentrum voor de landbouw - Proef en Vormingscentrum voor de landbouw

Proef- en Vormingscentrum voor de landbouw

Romeinse Tempelsite - Tempelsite

Romeinse Tempelsite

Museum Heilig Paterke - Heilig Paterke

Museum Heilig Paterke

Politie- en Motormuseum - Politie- en motormuseum

Politie- en Motormuseum

In the museum you will find a collection of over 40 year-old police and gendarme uniforms and everything associated with them. You will also find old motorbikes here. There is no lack of legendary Belgian brands such as Gillet, FN and Sarolea. But rare makes such as a French Terrot and a Hungarian Danuvia are also proudly on display. Most of them date from the first half of the previous century.

Naturally there is a lot more to discover in Pierre Thijs's museum. If you would like to arrange a visit, this is always possible on request.

Het verhaal van Meulenberg, Houthalen-Dorp en Sonnis - Klooster

Het verhaal van Meulenberg, Houthalen-Dorp en Sonnis

Brustem Air Base Museum

This small museum located in one of the abbey’s wings has an interesting exhibition about the history of the former military airport in Brustem. Photographs, pictures, images and items of the airbase are displayed here and tell visitors the story of the Belgian presence, the occupation by the German Luftwaffe and the American USAAF-period. Since 1974 the Belgian Airforce has trained its pilots in Brustem.

Greenville, cleantech dienstencentrum - Voorgevel Greenville

Greenville, cleantech dienstencentrum

Sint-Maartenkerk - Sint-Maartenkerk

Sint-Maartenkerk

Sevensmolen - Sevensmolen

Sevensmolen

Kinderactiviteiten in het Gallo-Romeins Museum - Gallo-Romeins Museum: activiteit voor kinderen

Kinderactiviteiten in het Gallo-Romeins Museum

Iers Kruis - Landmark Lafelt

Iers Kruis

Sint-Pieterskerk - Sint-Pieterskerk

Sint-Pieterskerk

Oud Kerkhof - Oud Kerkhof

Oud Kerkhof

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Information regarding the Coronavirus

Dear visitor

In line with the national measures in Belgium regarding the Corona virus, the following measures are in force:

Holiday homes, hotels, B&Bs, camping grounds and other accommodations remain open. You’re still able to enjoy the landscapes of Limburg during a relaxing walk or a bicycle tour.
Holiday resorts, restaurants, bars, museums, cultural centers and public buildings are unfortunately closed.

See you in Limburg!

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