Sint-Truiden

The small town, whose French name is Saint-Trond, is situated about 20 kilometers west of Tongeren. It grew around the abbey founded in the 7th century by St. It's hard. After his death, the abbey became a center of pilgrimages that brought wealth to the neighboring town. The 11th century was a period of significant development for the city and an increase in its population. During this time, Abbot Adelardus built the main abbey church and two churches in the city.

​In 1129 the city was surrounded by a stone wall. In the 13th century, the fortified Sint-Truiden, along with 23 major towns, was incorporated into the bishopric of Liège. In 1467 the city was conquered by Charles the Bold and from that period began its slow decline, which lasted until the 19th century. In 1675 the city walls were demolished, and during the French Revolution some monastic orders were dissolved and many monuments were destroyed. During World War II, one of the most famous Luftwaffe squadrons, the Night Fighter, was stationed here.

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Church of Our Lady in Sint-Truiden

This partly Gothic, partly Neo-Gothic building is the third church built on this site. The first one was founded in the 11th century, under the direction of Abbot Adelardus II. In 1086 it was completely destroyed by fire. The first mention of a second church built on this site dates back to 1107, but the exact date of its construction is unknown. In 1399 the church was raised to the rank of a collegiate church. ​

The choir of the present church dates back to the 14th century, the main nave and side aisles from the 15th century. The Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built on behalf of the abbey in 1542. The current church tower was built in the years 1847-1852 according to the design of the architect J. Gerard. 

Inside the temple, on the arch, there is a wall painting depicting the Last Judgment, the work of Johannes Van den Eyde from 1626. In the main nave hangs a 16th-century polychrome cross.

Other notable treasures include a polychrome wooden statue of the Madonna and Child (14th century), late Gothic sculptures from around 1500, such as an oak statue of Christ on the Cross, a polychrome sculpture of Christ on stone (16th century), and Christ in the Tomb, also from the 16th century.  A polychrome wooden statue of the Madonna and Child from the Baroque period, attributed to the sculptor Artus Quellinus the Younger (17th century).

18th-century side altar of St. Lucia, oak pulpit (1773), neo-Gothic choir stalls, brass baptismal font from around 1860. In addition, tombstones from the 16th and 17th centuries. In the treasury you can admire a unique religious heritage. Many of the objects come from the former Sint-Truiden Abbey. The most important are the reliquaries of Sint-Trudo and Sint-Eucherius, silver statues of the apostles, gilded monstrances, and liturgical vestments.

Address:
Grote Markt z/n
                      3800 Sint-Truiden                     

Opening hours:
Monday-Sunday
8.30-17.30

Fare:
for free

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Town hall

The 18th-century town hall was built around a bell tower built in 1606, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The tower has a clock and a magnificent carillon with 50 bells. Together with the tower of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the 11th-century tower, which is a remnant of the Abbey of St. Trudo, they tower over the market square in Saint-Trond. Inside the town hall there is a tourist information office and a shop selling regional products. 

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Beguinage of Saint Agnieszka - UNESCO World Heritage List

Beguinage of Saint Agnes was built in the mid-13th century. In its heyday, over 200 beguines lived here. Most of the historic houses date from the 17th and 18th centuries. They were built on the site of half of the wooden houses that burned down in a fire. In 1998, the Beguinage was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. It contains thirteen Belgian beguinages. 

Beguinage in Saint-Trond is not as beautiful as those in Leuven, Kortrijk or Lier. Historic houses alternate here with those built today. What undoubtedly attracts tourists to this place is, above all, the church, and especially what it hides inside. This Romanesque-Gothic church, with a steeple at the top of the roof, captivates with its series of 38 murals dating from the 13th to 17th centuries and its 17th-century organ, considered the oldest working organ in Belgium. Their creator was Christian Ancion of Hoei (1644-1646). 

The interior of the church, apart from the pulpit, is devoid of any furniture. Upon entering, the ubiquitous emptiness catches the eye. The ascetic interior of the church allows the focus to be on these unique wall paintings depicting religious life in the Middle Ages. The austere interior of the temple is enhanced by the old stone floor, wooden vault, and white-painted walls. Beguinage is located about 1.5 km from the center, but it is worth taking the time to get here because the tour  The city will not be complete without visiting this UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

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Address: 
Begijnhof , 3800 Sint-Truiden 

Opening hours: 
Monday-Friday
10.00-12.30 and 13.30-17.00
Saturday-Sunday
13:30-17:00

Fare:
for free

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Tower of Saint Trudo's Abbey

Saint Trudo, son of Count Haspengouw, founded an abbey in 664, which after his death in 693 and the subsequent  canonization transformed into a sanctuary. The abbey flourished, becoming one of the largest monastic complexes in the Netherlands. The city of Sint-Truiden began to grow around it and received city rights in the 11th century. ​ In 883, Viking tribes destroyed the church of St. It's hard. Emperor Otto I took over the protection of the ruined abbey, and in 945 Abbot Adelbaro built a new church, which was replaced by an even larger structure in the 11th century.

The preserved tower dates back to the 11th century, and the attached Baroque gate dates back to the 17th century. Behind the gate there are the remains of three churches and an underground crypt. The tower was 66.7 m high. Unfortunately, a massive fire in 1975 destroyed the spire added in the 18th century.
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Currently, the tower is 35 meters high and thanks to the viewing platform at the top, it offers a wonderful view  a wonderful view of the city panorama. Visiting the tower is only possible in pairs (for safety reasons), so solo visitors should ask the tourist information office to join a group of tourists. Admission to the tower costs 4 Euro.

Vertical Divider

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Church of St. Marcin

This interesting building on Stapelstraat, 150 metres from the main square, is a neo-Romanesque reconstruction from 1887, designed by architect Edmund Serrure. The church has preserved its Renaissance tower and some late Gothic elements. The interior is quite austere and dark, but interesting. In the presbytery there is a wooden vault filled with paintings of saints and coats of arms. Next to the church is a monument to those who died in World War I.

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Address:
Stapelstraat , 3800 Sint-Truiden
                      Entry:  for free

Opening hours:
Monday-Sunday
8.00-18.00

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Franciscan Church

Minderbroederskerk, Sint-Truiden

Fifty meters from the main square stands the Baroque Franciscan church, which is adjoined by two cloisters built in the 17th century.

Inside the complex are the only remains of the medieval city walls. There is also a small museum called De Mindere. 

The church is open from Monday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., admission is free. 

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

​Available at the tourist information office, Trudopas entitles you to visit: the tower of the abbey of St. Trudo, the crypt, the Capuchin chapel, the Guvelingen church and the astronomical clock in the Beguinage. Cost 4 Euro.

http://www.toerisme-sint-truiden.be

Kamiel Festraets created the astronomical clock in 1937. The show lasts approximately 40 minutes.
The clock can be seen in the Beguinage:
​
from Monday to Friday
10.30-12.30 and 13.30-16.30

from Saturday to Sunday
13:30-16:30 

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