St Bartholomew's Church, Liège, Romanesque collegiate church in Féronstrée et Hors-Château, Liège, Belgium.
St Bartholomew's Church is a former collegiate church built of coal sandstone in the Meuse Romanesque style. Its westwork, 22 metres high and 28 wide, has twin square towers with steep pyramidal roofs and clock faces. The interior has a tall white-plastered nave with cylindrical columns and ribbed vaults, and a French Baroque altarpiece with spiral columns.
Founded in 1010 by Godescalc de Morialmé, provost of Saint-Lambert's Cathedral, the church was consecrated on 30 November 1015 by Bishop Balderic II. The present building was erected from the late 11th century (choir) to 1180 (westwork). In 1797 the chapter was suppressed and the church became a military store, returned to worship in 1803. After restoration, it was reopened on 28 March 2006.
The name refers to the apostle Bartholomew. The canons' preference for the Baroque shows in the main and side altars, while the pulpit, confessionals and doors are unvarnished oak in the Liège-Aachen style with Louis XV or Louis XVI ornament. The carillon, one of the few made by Matthias van den Gheyn, came from Val-Saint-Lambert abbey in 1804 and was rehung in 1807; it now has 50 bells.
The church is easy to reach at Place Saint-Barthélemy in the old town center where you can view it from different angles. Plan your visit during daylight hours to appreciate the carved stone details and the interior fully.
The baptismal font is attributed to Reinier of Huy and is counted among the Seven Wonders of Belgium. Its basin rests on twelve oxen, and the church also keeps a carillon of 50 bells weighing 7,802 kg, reached by climbing 340 steps up the south tower.
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