Saint-Materne Basilica

Walcourt, Belgium

Open to visitors

The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.

Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.

Find out more

The Basilica of Saint Maternus in Walcourt, Belgium, is a Gothic church legendary for its ancient wooden Madonna, carved between 950 and 1020 and among the oldest preserved Marian devotional statues in Western Christianity. According to tradition, an oratory was founded here by Maternus of Cologne in the late 3rd century; the church was formally consecrated in 1026. The miraculous reputation of its Madonna drew pilgrims throughout the Middle Ages, spurring successive rebuildings that transformed it into the Gothic structure visible today, constructed between the 13th and 16th centuries. The interior preserves exceptional artistic treasures, including a richly decorated rood screen from 1521 donated by Emperor Charles V and early 16th-century choir stalls. The building has endured fire and war damage, including destruction in May 1940 during World War II. Listed as a protected heritage property since 1941 and classified as a minor basilica since 1950, it remains an Exceptional heritage property of Wallonia.