Saint Peter

The impressive pulpit (1742) made by Jacques Bergé depicts the fallen Saint Norbert. It was moved from the Norbertine Abbey in Ninove to the Saint Peter’s church in 1807. Churches often took ‘second-hand’ items from other sacred buildings, for instance when a monastery was closed. Near the altar is a statue of the Virgin Mary on a throne (1442), the so-called ‘Seat of Wisdom’. This Sedes Sapientiae has been the emblem of the University of Leuven since 1908.

The treasury of Saint Peter in the choir is part of Leuven’s M-Museum. One ticket grants access to both permanent and temporary collections in the church and museum. The church displays fine religious metalwork and devotional paintings, most linked to Saint Peter’s Church. Highlights include gold and silver relics from the 15th to 17th centuries, key masterpieces of M’s precious metalwork.

The sacrament tower (circa 1450) and the mausoleum of Henry I (13th century), the first duke of Brabant, can be found in the choir, and they are definitely worth a visit. Henry’s wife, Machteld of Boulogne, and his daughter, Mary of Brabant, also have a mausoleum (13th century) in the last chapel on the tour.

Highlights in the treasury are the Noblemen triptych (1443), a copy of the Deposition (1435) by Rogier Van der Weyden (the original can be found in the Prado in Madrid), and two pieces by Dirk Bouts: The Last Supper (1464-1468) and the Torture of Saint Erasmus (ante 1464). These masterpieces by the hand of two Flemish Primitives have been admired for over 500 years in the church for which they were made, which is quite unique.

Four panels of the Renaissance paintings of Leuven are put in the spotlight in another side chapel. The Fall of the Rebel Angels and The Beheading of John the Baptist (anonymous, first half of the 16th century) are the preserved side panels of a triptych made for the Saint Sebastian chapel in the Saint Peter’s church. Jan Rombouts, the most important Renaissance Master, was only ‘rediscovered’ in 2011 after thorough research. More of his work can be admired in M.

A gilded bronze statue (1998) of Master Jan makes the right time known each quarter with its chimes. Chiming statues or ‘jaquemarts’ decorated numerous South Dutch towers from the 14th century onwards. Master Jan chimed the right time for the first time in 1381 until the statue collapsed with a part of the tower in 1573. The current statue above the entrance of the Saint Peter’s church keeps the tradition alive.