Église Saint-Loup - Namur

Located in the historic heart of Namur, the Saint-Loup church is one of the jewels of Baroque art of the old southern Netherlands.

The parish church of Saint-Loup and the adjacent royal atheneum form a large complex founded by the Jesuits in the medieval town of Namur in the 17th century. The old college , first built from 1610 onwards, derives its sober character in brick and blue stone from the Maasland constructive tradition .

The church , on the other hand, built between 1621 and 1645 by the Jesuit brother Huyssens, glorifies the Baroque art of the Counter-Reformation and translates all its prescriptions. The high screen facade with its relief animates the perspective of the Collègestraat and announces a grand interior . A large 'preaching room', served by narrow aisles, combines the duotone of pink marble and black marble due to its structural elements, such as columns, pilasters, arcades and entablature. The vaults, which were surprisingly 'modern' in structure for that time, are sculpted with exuberance and fantasy from Maastricht tuff, with multiple plant motifs in well-defined frames.

This Baroque architectural scenography is enhanced by exceptional furniture from the same period : main altar to which the eye converges, marble side altars, powerfully carved oak confessionals, contemporary communion rail and neo-Baroque pulpit.

Willem Vandenameele