Our Lady Immaculate Conception Lesser Sinaai

60 years after the destruction of the abbey, the monks built a small church for the inhabitants of Klein-Sinaai in 1636. After the French Revolution (8), this display of solidarity with the abbey was not tolerated. The church was sold by the French rulers and eventually demolished in 1822. After the departure of the French, a new church was built in the center of the village in 1835. At the church there is a walk with 7 stations. It dates back to 1872. Next to the church is the cave Our Lady of the Cyclists. It is the Flemish version of the French Notre-Dame des cyclistes in La Bastide d'Armagnac in the Landes and the Flemish centre for bicycle dedications. Every year there is a general consecration of bicycles at the beginning of the cycling season, but you can also have your bike consecrated by appointment. Next to the cave hang some jerseys of cyclists such as Tom Steels, Johan Museeuw, Fabian Cancellara and the local rider Kamiel Baert.

Kasteelstraat 9190 Klein-Sinaai ( Stekene)
Open Church:
July-Aug.: Fri, Sat and Sun: 2pm-5pm

Bicycle dedications by appointment.
More information on the website of the municipality of Klein-Sinaai 'Fietersgrot'.
You can make an appointment for a bicycle dedication at Jacques Van Daele, Pannenhuisstraat 53, 9190
Stekene (tel:09/346.98.54) or by mail [email protected]"

French Revolution:
At the end of the 18th century, the French Republic was born: the king was deposed and the power of the nobility and the Church was brutally reduced. During this period, the goods of the Church were seized and sold for the benefit of the state treasury. Monasteries and abbeys were abolished and banned. This arrangement was also in force in Belgium, which was annexed by France. It was Napoleon who reconciled with the Pope in 1801.

Stichting Open Kerken