St. Martin's Church Melsbroek

The history of this place of worship, which was originally built in Romanesque style, dates back to the 12th century. It is suspected that she was dependent on the nearby castle of Meerbeek.
In 1304 the church received a new nave with two aisles. During the Iconoclasm in the 16th century, the church was completely destroyed and looted. Two stations of the carved Stations of the Cross, which hung on the outside of the church at the time, could be saved.
From the beginning of the 17th century, the church was restored and enlarged. The tower, the only remnant of the old church, was given an additional floor from 1729. The traces of the bricked-up Romanesque arches are still visible today. A choir in Gothic style is also erected.

Under Pastor Galmart, the church was rebuilt in 1781. For example, the aisles from 1304 are first widened then extended.
From 1865 the choir was transferred from the east to the west side and the aisles were extended to next to the tower. Thus, the two remaining stations that were bricked into the outer wall of the tower suddenly entered the church room.
In 1896 it was the turn of the repair of the church tower. In 1927 they renewed floors and vaults. In 1963, Pastor De Pauw had the plaster removed from the interior walls, so that the beautiful white sandstone, typical of the region, became visible again. Finally, in 1998, all windows were replaced by new ones.
To the right of the St. Martinus church is the former chaplain's house, built in 1717-1720 by Gisberte de Locquenghien, Baroness van Melsbroek.

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