Cave Chapel Sint-Arnolduspark Tiegem

In the Sint-Arnoldus Park in Tiegem, in addition to the large Sint-Arnoldus Chapel, there is also a rock chapel, a stone open pulpit and a former hermit's cave. There used to be souvenir shops here too.

In the 15th century and later, relics of Saint Arnold were transferred to Tiegem, first to the parish church. Only in the 19th century did veneration shift to the Holdenbroekbos, quickly renamed the chapel forest. There was a well and a chapel. In 1817 the small St-Arnoud chapel was built, which still stands today.

In 1860 , construction of the large chapel, and later the pilgrimage site, started.

In the rock chapel or cave chapel there is a monumental statue of Mary with a child on a crescent moon.

Next to the chapel there is a staircase with a cement tree trunk with the inscription: 'PATHWAY TO THE MIRACULOUS FOUNTAIN'. The stairs descend to three consecutive ponds separated by cement bridges. The ponds are conceived as a cascade system.

Willem Vandenameele