St. Nicolas

Hidden behind a bustling pedestrian shopping street, the Church of Saint-Nicolas (Église Saint-Nicolas), though unassuming in appearance, bears witness to nearly a thousand years of Brussels' history and is one of the four oldest foundation-built churches still standing in the city. Its history lacks grand romantic narratives, instead telling a story of grassroots struggle and rebirth closely intertwined with the lives of Brussels' common people and merchants. Here are its four major moments of "highlight and hardship": 1. The Spiritual Totem of a Commercial Empire (12th Century onwards): The patron saint of the merchant class: Construction of the church began around 1125. At that time, the area in front of the church was not the current stock exchange, but rather Brussels' most vibrant historical market. Because Saint-Nicolas was the patron saint of merchants, bakers, butchers, and sailors, the surrounding medieval guilds and merchants pooled their resources to build the church, making it a spiritual pillar of Brussels' commercial rise. 2. The city's earliest bell tower (Belfry): In the 13th century, the church tower effectively served as Brussels' first city bell tower. The large bell in the bell tower was not only used for religious purposes, but also to announce the opening of markets, the collection of taxes, and to sound the alarm of foreign invasion. It was a core symbol of Brussels' autonomy in the Middle Ages. II. The Baptism of Fire in the 1695 Bombardment of Brussels: In August 1695, King Louis XIV of France ordered a massive bombing of Brussels. The entire city center (including the Grand Place) was reduced to ashes overnight. St. Nicola's Church, as the core area of ​​the bombing, was almost completely destroyed, with only some Gothic ruins remaining. An Immortal Historical Evidence (A Cannonball Impaled in a Column): One of the most famous wonders of St. Nicola's Church is located in its left nave. During the reconstruction of the church, the architects deliberately preserved a real cannonball that had flown into the church during the 1695 French bombing and was now lodged firmly in a stone column. More than 300 years later, this cannonball remains embedded in the white column, becoming the most striking and direct witness to that devastating disaster. III. A Series of Disasters: The Tragic Fate of Three Collapses Due to the presence of an ancient, irregular medieval stream beneath its foundations, coupled with the ravages of war, the church's fate was marked by structural calamities: First: In 1367, a sudden storm toppled the early church tower. Second: During the 1695 bombing raids, the tower was severely damaged by fire. The third fatal blow (the tower's collapse in 1714): Twenty years after the bombing raids, the already precarious foundation of the bell tower could no longer bear the weight of the 13 giant bells at its top, and in the afternoon of 1714, without warning, it completely collapsed, destroying the church's west entrance. Because the event was so devastating (reportedly killing a pedestrian and a pig), the Brussels City Council abandoned plans to rebuild the tower for over two centuries. IV. A Modern-Day "Hidden Gem in the City" Nearly Ripped to the Ground: During the French Revolution at the end of the 18th century, the church was forcibly closed and auctioned off. Radicals even attempted to completely destroy it, but fortunately, it was returned to the church after political stability in 1804. An Architectural Wonder Surrounded by Shops: During the urban expansion of the 19th and 20th centuries, land in the city center was extremely valuable. Countless small shops, chocolate shops, and cafes were built directly against the church's exterior walls, enveloping it like vines. Even today, unless you venture into specific narrow alleys (such as Rue au Beurre), it's difficult to see the entire medieval church from the outside, creating a fascinating symbiotic landscape of urban commerce and sacred religion. Modern Form: The neo-Gothic facade we see today was only finalized by urban architect Jean Rombaux in 1956 and underwent a complete renovation in the early 21st century. The interior of this church is currently completely free to the public. If you're planning to go inside now, try to find the exact location of the real cannonball from 1695! Another treasure of the church is a 17th-century Flemish altarpiece inspired by Rubens! Treasure Hunt 1: The 1695 "Real French Cannonball" Hidden in a Column This cannonball is the most striking witness to war in the church's history, and it's hidden inside: How to find it: After passing through the main entrance and entering the main nave, walk directly along the left aisle. Near the front row, above one of the tall white medieval columns supporting the vault (about 3 meters above the capital), you'll see a black iron sphere firmly embedded in the brickwork. Photo Tip: Below this cannonball, the church has thoughtfully placed a small bronz

It was a beautiful building!

Beautiful church very close to the Grand Place of Brussels

🤩Peaceful and historic church with beautiful architecture and near the Grand Palace Brussels 💙