Saint Bartholomew's Church

Originally, the 12th-century Chapel of Our Lady of Maerct stood here. In the 16th century, it was enlarged and took on a Gothic appearance that closely resembles that of the church in 2012. The iconoclasts made their home here in 1566. During renovation and restoration work between 1580 and 1618, the Gothic features were replaced by Baroque, while the major renovation (1876-1895) attempted to restore the original Gothic style. The high gabled roof also dates from that period.

The Saint Bartholomew's Church is a church with three naves, a transept, a choir with an ambulatory and radiating chapels. The Saint Adrian's Chapel is the only one that has preserved the original Baroque altar. Adrian is, together with Bartholomew, the patron saint of the city.

The Baroque pulpit dates from 1755 and is considered one of the most beautiful in Belgium. It is crafted by Gillis de Ville, an artist from Geraardsbergen. The group of statues under the pulpit from 1770 is by the Bruges artist Petrus Pepers - Christ hands the keys to Peter.

In the church, several paintings can be seen, including The Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew by Gaspar de Crayer. Three silver reliquaries, including that of Bartholomew, are housed in one of the radiating chapels. The carillon with 49 bells plays the Rubens March by Peter Benoit on the hour, the Loze Vissertje at half past the hour, the Giant's Song a quarter to the hour, and a quarter past the hour, There sat a Snow White little bird.

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