Saint Hubert
One of the most important towns in the High Ardennes. Surrounded by beautiful forests, which are a refuge for birds and wild animals. Popular among hunters and fans of hiking along forest paths. The city is named after its patron saint. According to legend, Count Hubert, while hunting in the nearby forests, saw a deer with a crucifix in its antlers. This prompted him to convert to Christianity, become a bishop, and then a saint. Every year on December 3rd, on the anniversary of the conversion of St. Hubert, mass is celebrated in the basilica with the participation of pilgrims and hunters.
The Abbey of Saint Hubert, belonging to the Benedictine Order, was founded in 687 on the initiative of Pepin II and his wife Pelletrude. It gained fame when the Bishop of Liege brought here the relics of Saint Hubert, the patron saint of the Ardennes and hunters. Over the centuries, it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. The buildings that can be visited today have been reconstructed in their original location. The abbot's palace, built of brick and limestone next to the basilica, was built in the 18th century. Today, the abbey buildings are occupied by the cultural office and house an important part of the national archives. They cannot be visited.
Basilica of St. Hubert
The abbey church has a long rectangular nave, measuring 81.50 m x 30.50 m, ending with a polygonal apse. The building as a whole has a clear orientation. The choir faces east, while to the west there are two towers with a porch. The temple has five naves consisting of five bays of 7 meters each, an invisible transept, and a deep choir with an ambulatory into five chapels. A crypt was built under the choir.
The church's facade is a large limestone structure supported by a high plinth, masking the former towers, and is more neoclassical in style, although the octagonal towers are Baroque-inspired. Above the entrance to the porch is the coat of arms of Clement Lefevre, which includes a cross, myrrh and a sword, symbols of his power and authority as abbot and lord of the city of Saint-Hubert. At the top, between the two towers, there is a bas-relief commemorating Hubert's conversion, which took place during a hunt. Saint Hubert is depicted here in the robes of the Bishop of Liege. The original statue, severely damaged in 1986, was replaced by a sculpture by contemporary artist Jan Willame.
The church's facade is a large limestone structure supported by a high plinth, masking the former towers, and is more neoclassical in style, although the octagonal towers are Baroque-inspired. Above the entrance to the porch is the coat of arms of Clement Lefevre, which includes a cross, myrrh and a sword, symbols of his power and authority as abbot and lord of the city of Saint-Hubert. At the top, between the two towers, there is a bas-relief commemorating Hubert's conversion, which took place during a hunt. Saint Hubert is depicted here in the robes of the Bishop of Liege. The original statue, severely damaged in 1986, was replaced by a sculpture by contemporary artist Jan Willame.
Interior of the church of St. Hubert
The entire presbytery was rebuilt in the Baroque style at the beginning of the 18th century. In 1721 the main altar was built. All the sculptures placed there, except for the Virgin Mary, were created by C. Van der Vecke. At the entrance to the choir there are two small altars whose simplified design refers to the main altar. On the north side there is an altar with a statue of Our Lady with a rosary, on the south side there are sculptures of St. Benedict, Saint Dominic, and Saint Agatha. These altars were consecrated in 1741. The creator of this magnificent organ is believed to be Antoine Le Picard.
The altar located in the side nave is dedicated to the cathedral's patron saint. The sculpture depicts Saint. Hubert as a bishop, with a deer at his feet. The Saint's relics disappeared forever during the iconoclast attack in 1568. In later years, in order to raise funds for the reconstruction of the temple, the reliquary in which the remains of Saint were kept was sold. Hubert. Since September 17, 1848, the empty tomb of Saint has been located in the northern part of the transept. Hubert. Its creator is Guillaume Geefs, court sculptor of King Leopold I. The sculpture depicts the Saint in bishop's robes.
The large arcades, triforium and high windows are in the Brabant Gothic style, while the blind arches on the exterior are an example of Liège Gothic. The crypt is the oldest part of the church. It was consecrated in 1560, but part of the walls of the crypt consecrated in 1081 have been preserved to this day. Originally, the remains of Saint were kept here in a special reliquary. Hubert.
The altar located in the side nave is dedicated to the cathedral's patron saint. The sculpture depicts Saint. Hubert as a bishop, with a deer at his feet. The Saint's relics disappeared forever during the iconoclast attack in 1568. In later years, in order to raise funds for the reconstruction of the temple, the reliquary in which the remains of Saint were kept was sold. Hubert. Since September 17, 1848, the empty tomb of Saint has been located in the northern part of the transept. Hubert. Its creator is Guillaume Geefs, court sculptor of King Leopold I. The sculpture depicts the Saint in bishop's robes.
The large arcades, triforium and high windows are in the Brabant Gothic style, while the blind arches on the exterior are an example of Liège Gothic. The crypt is the oldest part of the church. It was consecrated in 1560, but part of the walls of the crypt consecrated in 1081 have been preserved to this day. Originally, the remains of Saint were kept here in a special reliquary. Hubert.
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Address:
6870 Saint- Hubert |
Opening hours:
Daily: 9:00-17:00 |
Fare:
Free admission |
The most famous resident of Saint-Hubert was Pierre-Joseph Redouté, known as Rafael of Flowers . This wonderful rose painter was born in 1759. The city museum cultivating the memory of this artist was established opposite the house where he lived, which was destroyed during World War II.
The city also has a church of St. Giles, built in the Romanesque style in 1084, was subsequently rebuilt many times. Near Saint-Hubert, in beautiful forest surroundings, there is a monastery dedicated to Our Lady of Hurtebise.
Hiking enthusiasts will surely appreciate the La Boulaie du Rouge nature reserve. Poncé, and the Fourneau Saint-Michel canon, which covers 40 hectares, and the Parc a Gibier wildlife park, will be of particular interest to children. There is a castle in the nearby town of Mirwart.
