Basilique de Saint-Pierre et Paul - Saint-Hubert

The basilica is part of an abbey. The abbey was founded in 687 by canons. The choice was made for a convenient location on a plateau of 430 m altitude near a stream called Andange. In 817, the monastic community, which was in decline, passed into the hands of the Benedictines by order of the bishop of Liège Waltcaudus. On 30 September 825, the body of Saint Hubert was transferred from Liège to Andage. The place soon developed into a place of pilgrimage and was soon called Saint-Hubert. Around the abbey an agglomeration formed with farmers but also leatherworkers, shoemakers, innkeepers, merchants and blacksmiths. This core had a maximum of 4,000 inhabitants.

On the site of the current basilica there were already several churches. A Romanesque church burned down on June 5, 1130. A first Gothic church, of which elements remain in the towers, was consecrated in 1145 but burned down on 20 January 1525. Then, between 1525 and 1564, the current late Gothic church was built. This is relatively large, considering that it served not only for the monastic community, but also for the reception of pilgrims.

Inside is also a sawn-off tree, the 'arbre des pélérins'. It stood along the road from Saint-Huber to Liège and was the last stop for the pilgrims. The pilgrims attached objects and the tree and hammered nails into it, hoping that the tree will deliver them from the evil that afflicts them.

Because the tree became a danger in 1977 due to its age, the inner part was transferred to the basilica. 30 cm below the bark, workers found the cross that can be seen here. The fact that both feet are next to each other and are not crossed proves the antiquity of this cross. A foot is also decorated with an animal head on which a small cross is set.

There are other surprising phenomena to discover in this basilica, worthy of Dan Brown's books. For example, in the basilica, during the summer sun turn on June 21, one can see a curious phenomenon. Just after sunrise, the panel depicting the conversion of St-Hubert is illuminated by a beam of sunbeams. Fascinating! And it seems that it is also a place for telluric forces. To make the most of this extraordinary heritage, it is best to be accompanied by a guide or rent an audio guide. And a visit at the top of the basilica, in the rooster beams, is spectacular!

Willem Vandenameele