Basiliek de Scherpenheuvel
Reputedly the most visited shrine of pilgrimage in Belgium, this church was consecrated in 1627, and owes much of its beauty and status to the patronage of the Archdukes Albert and Isabela, and its role in the Counter-Reformation.
About this building
The Marian cult of Scherpenheuvel is based on a small statue of Mary that was reputed to hang in an oak tree on the top of the hill. Local inhabitants of the nearyby village of Zichem would walk three times around the tree while praying, in the hopes of curing the illness of a loved one. During the Dutch Revolt in the 80 Years War, the local barony to which Zichem belonged changed hands several times, causing the statue to be removed in an act of Iconoclasm by the occupying forces of the United Provinces.
After the war, and the rediscovery of the statue, the construction of a shrine began in July 1603, to provide a better home for the statue. The Archdukes Albert and Isabella undertook their first pilgrimage to the shrine on 20 November 1603, which quickly turned into an annual event. The shrine grew in popularity, and quickly was raised to the status of an independent church, with a surrounding town. The design and building of the basilica was managed by Wenceslas Cobergher. In 2011, it was Pope Bendictus XVI dedicated that years Golden Rose to the basilica.
