St. Pancratius Church

The original Saint Pacratius Church in Sterrebeek was built in Romanesque style. The old church consisted of a semicircular choir, a central tower, a nave with a central aisle, and two side aisles. The 12th-century sandstone tower is the only remnant of the medieval structure. In 1829, a new church was erected on the same site, albeit with a change in orientation. The old choir was demolished and the new one was added against the southwest wall. The old tower was integrated as the entrance tower, which was raised in 1869. Since then, the church has had its altar facing west. This is a deviation from the generally accepted rule that all churches have their altars facing east, namely toward the birthplace of Christ. The wood for the construction was supplied by Prince William II of the Netherlands. In the choir there are two paintings: "The Adoration of the Shepherds" from around 1600, a work by the Vriendt or Coxie painted on six pre-Rubensian panels, and "The Crucified Christ," an 18th-century painting by PJ Verhaegen, the imperial court painter. Outside, to the right of the choir, is the mourning chapel of the de Fierlant family. This family has lived in the Sterrebeek Castle "Ter Meeren" since 1746.

Gemeente Zaventem