The fifth largest temple in the world
National Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Brussels |
vertical divider
Her story begins in 1880 a year. On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of Belgium's independence, King Leopold II decides to make the Koekelberg Plateau a royal district.
|
Initially, inspired by the Sorbonne district in Paris, he wanted to build a National Pantheon here, but when the project received little support, the monarch proposed to build a national sanctuary.
The cornerstone for the construction of a new, monumental temple was laid by the king in 1905 on the occasion of the seventy-fifth anniversary of Belgium's independence. The construction of foundations began according to Pierre Langerock's project prepared in 1903, which envisaged a huge building in the neo-Gothic style.
The cornerstone for the construction of a new, monumental temple was laid by the king in 1905 on the occasion of the seventy-fifth anniversary of Belgium's independence. The construction of foundations began according to Pierre Langerock's project prepared in 1903, which envisaged a huge building in the neo-Gothic style.
World War I exhausted the funds of the kingdom, and the architectural taste changed. The resignation from the Langerock project forced the search for an architect who will design the temples again. Finally, an art-deco design was made by Albert Van Huffel, an architect from Ghent. In 1919, Cardinal Mercier dedicated the church to the victims of war. In 1930, the construction of the apse began, which was opened for worship in 1935. It is also the date of death of Albert Van huffel, who was replaced by engineer Paul Rome. After the outbreak of World War II, work was suspended again until September 1944.
The temple was consecrated in 1951 by Cardinal Van Roey. In 1952 year, Pope Pius XII granted the new church the title of Minor Basilica. 11 November 1970 a great celebration crowns the end of the basilica's construction.
The National Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Brussels is the fifth largest church in the world and the largest in the art-deco style. The building is made of reinforced concrete covered with brick, terracotta, and various types of marble, parquet and blue stone. In both towers there are five bells: Ulrich, Gabrielle, Isidorus-Maria, Joseph, and the great bell of peace Balduinus. The impressive dimensions of this monumental temple are as follows:
Nawa centralna- 164 metry
Transept- 107 metrów
Galerie znajdują się na wysokości 10 metrów
Zwieńczenie sklepienia 29 metrów
Szczyt kopuły- 90 metrów
Galeria zewnętrzna-50 metrów
Transept- 107 metrów
Galerie znajdują się na wysokości 10 metrów
Zwieńczenie sklepienia 29 metrów
Szczyt kopuły- 90 metrów
Galeria zewnętrzna-50 metrów