Church of Our Lady of the Rich Clares, Baroque church in Pentagon District, Brussels, Belgium
The Church of Our Lady of the Rich Clares is a baroque church in the Pentagon District of Brussels featuring a main nave with side aisles and elaborate vaulted ceilings decorated with religious motifs. The interior displays characteristic baroque architectural elements and detailed ceiling ornaments throughout the worship space.
Construction began in 1670 under architect Lucas Faydherbe, replacing a Gothic chapel that had belonged to the Brothers of Common Life. The new building represented the baroque approach to religious architecture in the center of Brussels.
The church continues to serve as a Catholic place of prayer and displays white marble altars and baptismal fonts from the 18th century. Visitors can see how these elements shaped the spiritual experience of worshippers in the baroque period.
The church is located on Rue des Riches Claires in central Brussels and welcomes visitors during regular hours alongside its religious services. Plan your visit around the schedule of worship so you can appreciate the interior without interrupting gatherings.
The church escaped damage when Brussels was bombarded in 1695, though its adjacent convent buildings were completely destroyed. This contrast reveals how selectively the bombardment affected the Old Town and how well the church structure itself withstood the attacks.
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