Nos événements
St. John the Baptist
Dans le cadre des Journées Eglises Ouvertes 2019, Monseigneur Jean-Pierre Delville, évêque de Liège, a aimablement accepté de partager les émotions que peut procurer la musique produite par un orgue du 17e siècle en donnant un récital en l'église Saint-Jean-Baptiste.
Event Host Building
St. John the Baptist
This church, which was rebuilt in the 17th century in Renaissance Gothic style, is in the historic centre of Herve.The early 13th century Romanesque tower is one of the oldest monumental buildings existing in the Herve area. It recalls the feudal period when, due to insecurity, everywhere was fortified. The walls are three metres thick furnished with loopholes.
The tower (21m), topped by a spiral spire (28m), is flanked by four watchtowers crowned with octagonal spires. On top of the spiral steeple is a very large cross decorated with lily, from 1805.
At the crossing of the transept is an octagonal belfry in which one can see the bell dating from 1518. There are guided visits for the public to the fortified tower and its steeple.
An oratory on the ground floor of the tower has a reliquary with relics coming from the main reliquary of Pope Alexander (105-115) as well as a parchment dated 1145 signed by the Abbot Wibald de Stavelot authenticating the deposit of these relics.
The dates off construction of the church are embossed on the metopes placed over the windows: side naves :1625 and 1626; transept and choir 1653.
The church, which has been listed since 1934, had a major exterior renovation in 2010 and 2011.
Inside is the pulpit (1739), a fine example Louis XIV style of Liege, the Meuse style baptismal fonts (1574), the 17th century organs and the painting “The Sacred Sacrament dispute” attributed to Bertolet Flemal (1614-1675), a major figure in 17th century painting in Liege.
The symbolism of the stained glass windows deserves special attention. In the side nave on the south they illustrate the theme of the Eucharist through the evocations of the Old and New Testaments, liturgical hymns and historic descriptions. In the nave on the north they are entirely dedicated to the Virgin Mary, poetically evoking the greatness of Mary.
Journées des Eglises Ouvertes 2017
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