Scherpenheuvel is a small town in the province of Flemish-Brabant, Belgium. It is known for its religious significance and history, attracting many visitors from all over the world. The town is home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Scherpenheuvel, which is an important pilgrimage site for Catholics.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Scherpenheuvel is the most important attraction in the town. It is a baroque church that was built in the 17th century and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
It is believed that the Virgin Mary appeared to a shepherd boy on the hill where the Basilica now stands. The boy found a small statue of the Virgin Mary, which was later enshrined in the church. Since then, pilgrims have traveled to Scherpenheuvel to venerate the statue and ask for healing and blessings.
Aside of the Basilica there is a dedicated place where Christians burn a candle for good luck and faith.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Scherpenheuvel has a gigantic dome which is crowned with a lustrous scattering of 298 gilt stars. Not only is Our Lady of Scherpenheuvel Belgium’s most famous basilica, it is also the oldest domed church, dating back to 1627. The basilica and square are designed as a heptagram, symbolic of Mary’s seven sorrows and seven joys.
We took a train from Belgium and then a bus to visit the church. I felt the peace praying in the church. I was also admiring the beauty of the church’s architecture and interior decorations.
Basilica of Our Lady of Scherpenheuvel
