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Church · Tongeren, Limburg
Onze-Lieve-Vrouwebasiliek
Gothic basilica with a 64-metre tower, built on top of Roman remains. The Teseum, next door, brings together the treasury, the Romanesque cloister, the tower and the underground archaeological site.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Onze-Lieve-Vrouwebasiliek
The Onze-Lieve-Vrouwebasiliek, the Basilica of Nossa Senhora, is Tongeren's main church and was the cathedral of the city's former diocese. Excavations on the site have uncovered some of the richest archaeological finds in Flanders: wooden houses from the 1st century, a 4th-century building area, a Merovingian church and a 9th-century Carolingian oratory.
The current church began to be built in 1240, in a regional Gothic style. The nave, transept and side chapels were added between the 13th and 15th centuries, and the tower, 64 metres high, was constructed between 1442 and 1541. Inside is the image of Nossa Senhora de Tongeren, from 1475. The church became a basilica in 1931, and the tower was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999, as part of the belfries of Belgium and France.
The Teseum is the complex's museum. It includes the treasury, with one of the country's richest collections of sacred art, the Romanesque cloister with garden, the climb up the tower via the attics and the carillon, and the underground archaeological site that traces 2,000 years of history beneath the basilica.
Every seven years the city holds the Kroningsfeesten, a large procession in honour of the image of Nossa Senhora, which was crowned in 1890.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 20–30 minutes for the basilica; about 1.5–2 hours with the Teseum and the tower.
Best time
Visit during opening hours, avoiding services. For the tower, choose a clear day. Check the Teseum opening days before you go.
How to get there
It’s on the Grote Markt, about a 10-minute walk from Tongeren station. The Teseum entrance is via the Museumkwartier, next to the basilica.
Tip
Don't miss descending to the Teseum's archaeological site: it's where you can see the Roman, Merovingian and medieval layers. The climb up the tower involves many steps.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Onze-Lieve-Vrouwebasiliek
What is the Teseum?
It is the museum linked to the basilica. It brings together the treasury of sacred art, the Romanesque cloister, the climb to the tower and an underground archaeological site with 2,000 years of history.
Can you climb the tower?
Yes, with a Teseum ticket. The route goes through the church attics and past the carillon up to the viewpoint. There are many steps.
Is the basilica a World Heritage site?
The tower is part of the Belfries of Belgium and France ensemble inscribed by UNESCO in 1999.
What are the Kroningsfeesten?
They are the coronation festivals, held every seven years in remembrance of the coronation of the image of Nossa Senhora de Tongeren in 1890, featuring a large procession through the city.