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If you've already visited Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and Brussels, the Belgian Big Four, it's time to get off the beaten track and see that history also took place elsewhere. Finally it's time for Lier, a charming town located about 15 kilometers from Antwerp. It has few inhabitants, about 30 thousand, and yet it boasts numerous monuments, two of which have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
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The patron of the city is St. Gummarus missionary who founded it about 760 year. The Duke of Brabant gave Lier, 1212 year, the city rights. Over the centuries Lier remained in the shadow of its powerful neighbor, Antwerp. In 1496 was the site of the wedding of Philip I Handsome, the son of Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg with Joanna the Mad, which was the successor to the thrones of Aragon and Castilian. Son of the couple was Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, who ruled the Spanish-Austrian Empire. The most famous residents in the city's history include: Felix Timmermans, one of the most famous writers flemish lingual, creator of wonderful clocks Louis Zimmer, and more recently Jan Ceulemans, former player representative, bronze medalist of the European Championship with the 1980.
Main Market
From the Middle Ages on this square, triangle-shaped, beats the heart of the city, which received city rights already in 1212 year. Over the centuries, the market served the residents as a weekly market place processions, parades, and major celebrations. Here also it housed the political center. Councillors Lier offices in the Town Hall. It was formed at the cloth, which moved in the fifteenth century to the former slaughterhouse. In the 1740, the reconstruction of the City Hall, in the style of Brabant rococo, by Jan Pieter de Bauerscheit Younger.
Inside the town hall delight especially great spiral oak staircase, paintings on the ceiling in the meeting room and numerous paintings and antiques. The building houses a tour desk.
The town hall building was built for, existing from 1369 year, the bell tower. Its creator was Hendrijk Mijs. It has become a symbol of freedom and independence of Lier. Since 1971 the tower is a small automatic chime consisting of 23 bells. The 1999, the bell tower is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Vleeshuis is a building standing on the left side of the hall. Over the centuries, it fulfills different functions. Once served as the headquarters of the city guilds, in the fifteenth century moved here hall. Another time it housed a court or prison.
The building repaired several times, each time in a different style. Current neo-gothic facade comes from the reconstruction of 1920 year. Two stone lions guarding the town hall in the past. Today the building is used for temporary exhibitions. |
Located on the right side of the hall, the chapel of St. Jacob was repeatedly damaged during the First World War. The original chapel was founded here in 1383 year. In the seventeenth century it was used as a parish church for the Spanish troops stationed in Lier. Hence the name Chapel Spanish. About this period, like the coats of arms of the Spanish governors. The decoration of the chapel is very modest. It is located on the Way of St. James. Many people pilgrimage to northern Spain visits Lier. The gate next to the chapel led to a workhouse of Saint Jacob, destroyed 1948 year. Lived here in separate houses twelve elderly people.
The 1914, approximately three-quarters of the buildings coming on the market were destroyed. After the war some of them were rebuilt in their original appearance and some in different modern styles.
The 1914, approximately three-quarters of the buildings coming on the market were destroyed. After the war some of them were rebuilt in their original appearance and some in different modern styles.
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Beguinage
It is usually closed team small houses with a small church or chapel and the hospital in the nearby house was the Mother Superior called grand dame. Beguinage inhabited by widows or unmarried women who lead independent, inspired by religion, life.
In 1998 year, the Beguinage in Lier, along with 12 others beguinages located in Belgium, has been inscribed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. His story begins in 1258 of the year. Beguinage consists of 11 alleys, which were built at 162 houses. In the central part there is a church of Saint Margaret, whose construction falls on the seventeenth / eighteenth century.
The entrance gate to the Beguinage, made of blue-gray sandstone, it was established in 1690 year. In the niche, on its top was placed a statue of terracotta, made in 1777 year. It shows the figure of the holy Begi, the patron saint of Beguines. On the left side of the gate is the fourteenth-century statue of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
In the middle of the Calvary Hill added to the Beguinage at the end of the seventeenth century, the rectangular garden appears white Pieta, created in 1844 year.
Living here beguines remained, as in other beguinages, inter alia, lace-making. They vowed chastity and obedience, but not poverty. Last beguine residing Beguinage in Lier died in 1994 year.
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ST. MARGARET CHURCH
Dedicated to St. Margaret of Antioch, martyr and patron saint of the Beguinage in Lier. Construction of the church began in 1664. In the 1671 year was his dedication. Construction of the upper section of the front wall with a bell tower lasted for the next hundred years. This stretch during the construction of the church is reflected in architectural styles. Most of the church was built in baroque style, while the bell tower bears the marks of rococo. The impressive interior of the church hides a number of interesting sculptures and paintings and monumental bodies whose creator was Forceville.
ZIMMER TOREN
Formerly known as the Cornelius tower was part of the existing ones, since the fourteenth century fortifications. Contemporary tower received the name in honor of one of the most prominent residents of Lier, astronomer and creator of clocks Louis Zimmer (1888-1970).
In the 1930 on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the independence of Belgium Zimmer created the Clock Jubilee, A masterpiece of watchmaking, which earned him immortal fame. The clock was placed on the tower, which was rebuilt after the devastation suffered by the First World War.
In the 1930 on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the independence of Belgium Zimmer created the Clock Jubilee, A masterpiece of watchmaking, which earned him immortal fame. The clock was placed on the tower, which was rebuilt after the devastation suffered by the First World War.
Church of St. Gummarus
It was built in the Brabant Gothic style, in place of the Roman parish church, whose patron was St. John the Baptist. Started in 1378, the construction lasted about 200 years. Thus, we can note here three different architectural styles. The lower part of the church is a pure gothic, a baroque and rococo roof of the tower. The church was built on a Latin cross plan. Its tower rises to a height 83 meters. It replaced the previous Gothic tower, which was consumed by fire twice in the 1609 year, and almost a hundred years later, in the year 1702. After the destruction of it was replaced by the existing today octagonal bell tower in rococo style.
Also during the two World Wars the church had to be rebuilt after the devastation he suffered as a result of fire. With its centuries-old history of this temple houses a large collection of valuable religious art, including important stained glass, sculptures, paintings, vestments and sacred vessels. The 1496 was in this church wedding took Philip the Fair with Joanna of Castile.
Great reading room with white sandstone in the sixteenth century. Richly carved ornaments depict the stations of the cross. Placed on top of the reading small tower with a statue of St. Gummaruschurch was added in the nineteenth century. Delight also great, unique royal stained glass windows. Formed in the 1516-1519. Inaugurations represent Maximilian of Austria and Charles V dukes of Brabant. The creator of the stained glass was Nicholas Rombauts. On the other hand, stained glass The Coronation of the Virgin Mary is the absolute top among the late Gothic stained glass in Brabant.
There are a number of paintings in the side chapels. Particularly noteworthy is the triptych of the Colibrant family (1516). Its creator was Van der Weyden Gossen. It presents seven joys and seven sorrows of Mary. The magnificent silver reliquary with the relics of St. Gummaruschurch. On Sunday, October 10 October on the streets of Lier, a procession passes, during which 16 of the faithful are carried by this reliquary weighing about 800 kilograms. The church also has silver religious souvenirs made in the period from the 17th to the 19th century.
Address: |
Kardinaal Mercierplein • 2500 Lier
www.sintgummaruskerktelier.be/ |
Opening hours:Wielkanoc - 31 Octoberdziernika
niedziela, poniedziałek, święta: 14.00-17.00 wtorek-piątek: 10.00-12.00 i 14.00-17.00 sobota: 14.00-16.30 |
Ticket price:Adults: 1,5 Euro
Reduced: 1 Euro Children (0-18 lat) i students: free |
off the beaten track
If you visited already the main attractions of the city's time to put away the guide and get off the beaten path. Walk the streets of sluggish Lier can be really relaxing experience. There are no crowds here, hurry, hustle and bustle. Is a charming town lying 15 km from Antwerp is often overlooked by tourists, and it's a big mistake. Magnificent medieval buildings, churches, and above all the sights of the UNESCO World Heritage sites make Lier place which you must visit.
The tiny temple next to the church. Gummaruschurch is probably the oldest building in Lier (1225). During World War II, he was completely burnt down. In the 1922 rebuilt from the ruins. Inside the chapel of St. Peter feels very raw. It lacks the works of art, ornaments, is behind this silence, which leads some to pray, and others to reverie.
De Fortuin, which is a white building with green shutters located on the canal was built in the seventeenth century. For hundreds of years it was used as a granary, coal composition, lemonade factory, warehouse city, and today as a restaurant.
Gate prison was built as part of the fortified walls, 1335 the year. Until 1930 was in prison here, hence its name.
De Fortuin, which is a white building with green shutters located on the canal was built in the seventeenth century. For hundreds of years it was used as a granary, coal composition, lemonade factory, warehouse city, and today as a restaurant.
Gate prison was built as part of the fortified walls, 1335 the year. Until 1930 was in prison here, hence its name.