St Hubert's Key

St Hubert's Key is a religious artifact in Liège Cathedral, standing about 37 centimeters tall and made of metal shaped like a nail, cross, or cone. The object was used as a medical tool by heating it and applying it to wounds to prevent infection.

The key originated in Liège during the 12th century and was recognized as a treatment for rabies until the early 20th century. This long period of use shows how the religious object became woven into medical practice across many generations.

The key connects to Saint Hubert, the patron saint of hunters, and shows how hunting communities in Western Europe wove together their beliefs and religious practices. Visitors can see how this object reflects the hope that faith and sacred items could protect against illness.

The artifact is kept in the Cathedral's Treasury, where it is protected under controlled conditions. Visitors should plan to arrive early to access the Treasury during its opening hours and see this unique object up close.

Priests heated the key and used it to brand both humans and animals for protection against rabies. This practice blends religious devotion with early animal husbandry methods, showing how faith and practical care mixed in medieval times.