Sint-Aldegondiskerk

This village of artists at the banks of the river Lys has a beautiful, Neo-Roman church dedicated to Saint Aldegonde. The brick construction dates back to 1830, after the original Roman church was demolished.
In contrast with the Neo-Roman outside, the interior of the church is Neo-Classical.
Most church treasures and the furniture date back to the 19th century.
A few paintings date back to the 17th century and are ascribed to the Flemish School: The Lamentation (by Antoon Van Dyck), the Adoration of Shepherds, the Circumcision of Christ and Our Lady Immaculata.
The right side altar is dedicated to Saint Aldegonde. On the antepedium or parament below the altar we can see how Aldegonde is healing the sick. The polychrome oak statue on the altar (1635) represents the saint as Mother Superior with book, staff and rosary because she was the founder of the monastery of Maubeuge.
Old tombstones from the 18th and 19th century can be found in the choir as well as in the side isles. Several artists are buried around the church, including Gustave De Smet (painter and next to Constant Permeke one of the most famous names of Flemish Expressionism) and his brother Leon De Smet. Gaston Martens also found his final resting place here. He was playwright and author of the play ‘De Paradijsvogels’, which was later used by the national television channel Eén as inspiration for a fiction show of the same name.

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