Basilica of Our Lady of Hanswijk, Baroque basilica in Mechelen, Belgium
The Basilica of Our Lady of Hanswijk is a Baroque church featuring three aisles arranged around a central domed structure, one of the earliest of its kind in the Low Countries. The interior showcases elegant columns, arched ceilings, and decorative marble surfaces that reflect 17th-century religious architecture.
Architect Lucas Faydherbe designed this church in the 1660s, drawing inspiration from Italian Baroque models like Rome's Il Gesù. The building was completed across several phases and became an influential example of Baroque architecture in the Low Countries.
The basilica serves as the focal point of the annual Hanswijk procession, where crowds carry a wooden statue of the Holy Virgin through Mechelen's streets. This event demonstrates how the church remains central to the city's religious traditions and community gatherings.
The basilica is accessible to visitors with limited mobility, featuring ramps and wide entrances throughout the building. Good walking shoes are advisable since the interior space is expansive and includes several levels to explore.
Inside the basilica are more than 300 marble plaques inscribed in French and Dutch, recording personal prayers and thanks from visitors seeking blessings. These inscriptions create a remarkable archive of faith spanning several centuries of devotion.
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