Oudenbosch Basilica

Oudenbosch, Netherlands

The Oudenbosch Basilica is a Roman Catholic basilica built under the initiative of father Willem Hellemons who was parish priest between 1842 and 1884. Its nave and interior were modeled after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome; while the facade is a replica of the Basilica of St. John Lateran also in Rome. The Basilica was designed by architect Dr. P. Cuypers. Construction began in 1865 but was not fully completed until 1892. The basilica is unique in the region in that it is quite large with classical Italian appearance that is atypical for most of northern Europe, let alone a small village in North Brabant.

References:

Comments

Your name

Website (optional)


Address

Pastoor Hellemonsstraat 4-6, Oudenbosch, Netherlands
See all sites in Oudenbosch

Details

Founded: 1865-1892
Category: Religious sites in Netherlands

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Antwerp City Hall (41,9 km)
Cathedral of Our Lady (42 km)
Vermeer Center (48,4 km)
Binnenhof (56,5 km)
Delft City Hall (48,4 km)
Mauritshuis (56,5 km)
Nieuwe Kerk (48,4 km)
Rubenshuis (42,2 km)
Gevangenpoort (56,5 km)

User Reviews

Rob Wolters (35 days ago)
Impressive! Well worth a visit, this smaller copy of the St Peter's Basilica in Rome. Also has very good shop.
Gabriel Guita (54 days ago)
A unique place in the Netherlands, very beautiful!
Amir Almasy (7 months ago)
The most beautiful and amazing Basilica I've seen, Similiar to St Peter's Church in Rome Awesome Experience for Religious and non religious alike
Martijn Proper (10 months ago)
Because I'm an agnostic, I don't habitually visit churches. I can enjoy their grandeur, architecture or atmosphere, though. The basilica in Oudenbosch is like a mix-n-match replica of classical Rome churches.It's impressive enough for such a small village, however it is clearly a replica. The marble is painted marble effect and the gold is paint as well. Also, the acoustics are good enough but completely nullified by people using a PA system inside. Please, PLEASE, don' t.
Trisha Treintañera (10 months ago)
A surprise pearl in such a small village. Beautiful paintings and altar. Big size church with monumental spirit. It's not easy to find nice churches in the Nederlands any more, most of the Catholic ones are new with awful designs and the protestants are very simple. This one it's completely different from the rest of the churches in the country. Good hommage to St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Most beautiful castles in Lithuania
Photo from Flickr, copyright Maciek Lulko

Historic Site of the week

Wroclaw Town Hall

The Old Town Hall of Wrocław is one of the main landmarks of the city. The Old Town Hall's long history reflects developments that have taken place in the city since its initial construction. The town hall serves the city of Wroclaw and is used for civic and cultural events such as concerts held in its Great Hall. In addition, it houses a museum and a basement restaurant.

The town hall was developed over a period of about 250 years, from the end of 13th century to the middle of 16th century. The structure and floor plan changed over this extended period in response to the changing needs of the city. The exact date of the initial construction is not known. However, between 1299 and 1301 a single-storey structure with cellars and a tower called the consistory was built. The oldest parts of the current building, the Burghers’ Hall and the lower floors of the tower, may date to this time. In these early days the primary purpose of the building was trade rather than civic administration activities.

Between 1328 and 1333 an upper storey was added to include the Council room and the Aldermen’s room. Expansion continued during the 14th century with the addition of extra rooms, most notably the Court room. The building became a key location for the city’s commercial and administrative functions.

The 15th and 16th centuries were times of prosperity for Wroclaw as was reflected in the rapid development of the building during that period. The construction program gathered momentum, particularly from 1470 to 1510, when several rooms were added. The Burghers’ Hall was re-vaulted to take on its current shape, and the upper story began to take shape with the development of the Great Hall and the addition of the Treasury and Little Treasury.

Further innovations during the 16th century included the addition of the city’s Coat of arms (1536), and the rebuilding of the upper part of the tower (1558–59). This was the final stage of the main building program. By 1560, the major features of today’s Stray Rates were established.

The second half of the 17th century was a period of decline for the city, and this decline was reflected in the Stray Rates. Perhaps by way of compensation, efforts were made to enrich the interior decorations of the hall. In 1741, Wroclaw became a part of Prussia, and the power of the City diminished. Much of the Stray Rates was allocated to administering justice.

During the 19th century there were two major changes. The courts moved to a separate building, and the Rates became the site of the city council and supporting functions. There was also a major program of renovation because the building had been neglected and was covered with creeping vines. The town hall now has several en-Gothic features including some sculptural decoration from this period.

In the early years of the 20th century improvements continued with various repair work and the addition of the Little Bear statue in 1902. During the 1930s, the official role of the Rates was reduced and it was converted into a museum. By the end of World War II Town Hall suffered minor damage, such as aerial bomb pierced the roof (but not exploded) and some sculptural elements were lost. Restoration work began in the 1950s following a period of research, and this conservation effort continued throughout the 20th century. It included refurbishment of the clock on the east facade.

Map Top Sights Tags Historical Periods City Guides About Us Sign Up Upload new site
© 2020 SpottingHistory.com. All rights reserved.