Eglise Saint-Vaast
THE ABANDONED CHURCH IN BELGIUM
‘Eglise Saint-Vaast’ is an abandoned church that has closed its doors a very long time ago. The building is in a very bad state.
Fontaine-l’Évêque is a city and municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. The church is situated in the city center, at the Rue Joseph Parée.
The church already existed in 1211 under the name of ‘Chapelle de Bœgnies’. Eventually it was rebuilt in classical style in 1785 and restored in 1864 and 1933. The whole is built in bricks and limestone under a slate roof. In 1986 there was a serious danger of collapse due to overdue maintenance, consequently it was decommissioned and closed. Later, it was classified as a monument on March 27, 1992.
For years there was no money to restore it, leaving the church is a home for many pigeons. The floors of the church have been opened by archeologists, the church foundations date from 1215, so there is a rich history buried under the ground.
In 2020, funds were finally available to begin the transformation of the old church. The church was converted into a spacious public hall that will be used for flea markets and events. Additionally, it serves as a pathway leading to the park located behind the church. The pictures of ‘Eglise Saint-Vaast’ were captured in 2011. The new purpose of the building commenced in May 2024.
