Saint Lawrence

The little church consist of only one nave consisting of two bays, crowned with a bell-tower covered with leather(18th century). The square choir, with the eastern sacristy leaning against, dates from the 16th century.

The choir is arched over with a barrel vault of wood in late-gothic style(second half of 16th century). Against the wall of the nave stands the baroque tomb-stone of the parish-priest A. Milemans(died in 1667). In the church there are two aisles (18th) and a baptismal font(16th century). The statue of Jesus on the cross dates from the second half of the 16th century.

The village is situated near the little Gete, in a protected landscape. The artillery of fortress or mine-thrower on the cemetary, refers to the course of war at the Gete in 1914. An information board at the church gives more information about the events in Helen during the First World War.

Helen is connected to the old city Zoutleeuw thanks to the classified Jan van Heelu road and this along a since centuries unchanged trace. This streetname refers to the most known fellow-villager Jan van Heelu. Jan van Heelu was as a chronicler witness in the second half of the 13th century of the Battle of Woeringen(1288). The victory of Jan I of Brabant is described in his rhymed chronicle “The spirit of the battle of Woeringen”. Van Heelu wrote the in Brussels conserved chronicle probably between 1288 and 1294. It describes the history of Brabant between 1261 and 1288.

KIKIRPA: Photo-library online

Bicycleroute Getelinie

Website Church Helen (NL)

The church of Helen (NL)

Tourism Zoutleeuw (NL)

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