Where Gumbo Was #396
Gumbo was visiting the Cathedral of our Blessed Lady of the Sablon in Brussels. Congratulations to George G, who recognized where Gumbo was.
Our Blessed Lady of the Sablon (the name derives from its location in the Sablon district in historic Brussels) is a Catholic church dating to the 13th century. The first chapel built at this site was a modest structure which became the chapel of the Crossbowmen’s Guild.
The construction of the church we see today started around 1400 and lasted about 150 years, making it one of the oldest churches in Brussels. It has a beautiful Gothic exterior and interior Baroque decoration. It was extensively refurbished in the past 150 years, most notably with enhancement of its facade and rose window.
These polychrome murals in the choir date from the first half of the 15th century.
The elaborate and unique pulpit dates to the late 17th century .
The church has many beautiful stained glass windows which date to the late 19th century; a small sample is shown below:
The best views of the church’s exteriors are from the park across the street, known as Petit Sablon Square. Inaugurated in 1890, the square is decorated with 48 statuettes representing the crafts once practised in Brussels. These are dispersed around a lovely garden.
In the center of the park you’ll find the statues of the Counts of Egmont and Hornes, which symbolize the 16th century struggle against Spanish tyranny.
