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Lessines, a few steps away from the famous Notre-Dame à la Rose hospital, classified as an exceptional heritage site in Wallonia, the decanal church of Saint Peter is, to say the least, special. First of all, by its dimensions: more than 45 meters long and nearly 34 meters wide. Then, for its structure: between the tower, its chapels and a pentagonal choir constituting one of the most interesting 14th century constructions in Hainaut, the interior takes on the appearance of a hall church, seemingly made up of 5 parallel vessels; in reality, on either side of a large central nave, 12 meters high, 3 large chapels are grafted on, playing the role of double aisles.

The edifice occupies the site of a primitive chapel replaced by a first Romanesque church before 1075, itself replaced by a second one at the end of the 12th century. Since then, the building has undergone more than a dozen campaigns of extensions, transformations and restorations.

Annihilated on May 11, 1940 by a few German incendiary shells, the church lived a real ordeal, with restoration work only beginning in early 1950 and leading to the consecration on May 22, 1952. Through his work, the architect Simon Brigode was keen to restore the original purity and luminosity of the monument, which had been listed since 1941.

If the tower and the light-floor of the great nave date back to the second Romanesque church of the 12th century, the major part of the building is Gothic, a style perpetuated throughout the various campaigns of work that took place between 1356 and 1817.

Some works of art and furniture saved from the 1940 disaster have found a place in the church while the last war damages were attributed late: large organ in 1989, baptismal font, side altars and 3 bells only in 2013.

Welcoming, luminous, historical and educational, the church of Saint Peter is only waiting for one thing: your visit!

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Commémorations 80/70 (FR)