Collegiate Church of Sainte-Gertrude of Nivelles

May 2013

In this sunny May Day, I invite you to a tourist exit.
Towards Nivelles.

City of Aclots is a charming little town of Brabant. Clean streets, friendly people and many terraces.
For a historical summary, Nivelles owes its existence to the establishment of a double monastery (one for chicks and for the guys) in 647, this brilliant idea (at the time) back to Amand, bishop of Maastricht. Thus, Amand asked Pepin of Landen (an ancestor of Charlemagne) him spinning a small part of its territory to build his monastery.
Nepotism is already in vogue, Amand appointed his wife Itte Idoberge (what a name !) and his daughter Gertrude to the head of the small sociaty. Imagine a lady big boss of a community of men... At the time, it had to make a big splash.
The life goes on, the monastery became Abbey and Gertrude pass from life to death. Quickly canonized, pilgrims flock to pray at his grave and soon the little abbey church became too cramped. It was therefore decided to rebuild several times a new church on the previous one and thus was born the current collegiate Sainte Gertrude. We are then in the year 992.

Changed little over the centuries, if we disregard the tower, the church has unfortunately not survive the last World War. Devastated by German bombing in May 1940, a reconstruction begins when the Armistice was signed. After 50 years of work, the collegiate church was refurbished with its characteristic silhouette.

The visit was unfortunately marred by human stupidity. A squalling brat and a mother unable to care for her offspring. Usually, religious buildings are relaxing, but not here.
There is nothing really respect...

Anyway, Nivelles, it's great.
Do not hesitate to spend a day.