St. Mary's Royal Church, Catholic parish church in Schaerbeek, Belgium.
Description
St. Mary's Royal Church is a church building in Schaerbeek with an octagonal shape featuring eight supporting pillars and six chapels arranged around a circular central nave measuring 25 meters across. The structure blends neo-Romanesque, neo-Gothic, Byzantine, and Roman architectural styles throughout its interior and exterior.
History
Construction began in 1845 and continued until 1888, with multiple architects leading the project after the original designer Louis van Overstraeten died in 1849. This extended building period allowed different architectural visions to shape the final result.
Culture
The interior contains stained glass windows crafted by Jean-Baptiste Capronnier, which shape how light fills the space and define the mood inside. These windows reflect the skill of 19th-century Belgian artisans and remain central to what visitors experience when they step through the doors.
Practical
The building is located at Place de la Reine and can be reached easily from the Botanique metro station on lines 2 and 6. From there, a short walk brings you directly to the entrance.
Did you know?
This building brings together four distinct architectural styles in a way that is rare for Brussels, blending neo-Romanesque, neo-Gothic, Byzantine, and Roman elements. The shifts in architectural direction came naturally from having different architects guide the project during its long construction period.
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