Saint Peter's Church in Xhignesse, Romanesque church in Xhignesse, Hamoir, Belgium
Saint Peter's Church in Xhignesse stands on a knoll in the cemetery, built around 1100 in sandstone and limestone rubble. Its basilican plan has a high nave, two aisles, a wide transept and a rectangular choir ending in a rounded apse. The apse carries seven tall arcades, four blind and three pierced by round-arched windows, with nine blind niches above; a blind west tower was added in the 12th century.
The present church was built around 1100 in sandstone and limestone rubble. According to tradition, Plectrude, wife of Pepin of Herstal, founded Xhignesse between 687 and 714, and the domain was given to Stavelot-Malmédy Abbey, founded in 651 by Saint Remacle. The original sanctuary on the site has disappeared and probably had a monastic function. A blind west tower was added in the 12th century.
The village's name and founding are tied to Plectrude, wife of Pepin of Herstal, who according to tradition founded Xhignesse between 687 and 714. The church keeps the polychrome pulpit dated 1663, bearing the arms of curé Gaspard Poncin, who died in 1676 and whose tombstone lies in the choir. Since 2019 the association Lieux-Communs has held the summer exhibition "Le voyage à Xhignesse" inside the church.
The church stands on a knoll in the middle of the cemetery, entered through an 18th-century gate flanked by limestone pillars. The ground is uneven and the path slopes. Contemporary art exhibitions run only in summer, not year-round.
The limestone baptismal font is about 500 years old, and four carved faces in meditation mark the corners of the basin. The polychrome wooden pulpit bears the date 1663 and the arms of Gaspard Poncin, the parish priest who died on 23 June 1676; his tombstone lies to the right in the choir.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,151 contributors worldwide.