Basilica of Our Lady of Scherpenheuvel
The Basilica of Our Lady of Scherpenheuvel is the most important Marian pilgrimage site in Flanders. The baroque domed church, built between 1609 and 1627 to a design by Wenzel Cobergher, is the first fully baroque church in the Low Countries. Every year the basilica draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and tourists, especially around the major Marian feasts in May, August, and November.
Accessibility is partial. The main entrance at the front has several steps, but an adapted side entrance with a ramp gives wheelchair users step-free access to the nave. Inside, the central nave is level and spacious, with a good view of the miraculous image in the choir. The choir itself is reached by a few steps. Adapted toilets are available in the nearby welcome centre.
The star-shaped square and the surrounding streets are level and paved, making it easy to combine with a walk along the Way of the Cross and the candle chapels for wheelchair users. Disabled parking spaces are located close to the basilica, at the rear. The church is free to enter from early morning until evening.
Good to know
- Reservation
- No reservation needed for individual visits to the basilica. Reservations are needed for groups or during major pilgrimages.
- Busy and quiet times
- Busiest during Marian feast days (especially 15 August and the May pilgrimages) and on Sundays. Quietest on weekdays in spring and autumn.
- Things to note
- The basilica has a step-free side entrance and the ground floor is fully wheelchair accessible. The crypt and some pilgrimage routes outside the basilica include cobblestones and gentle slopes.
- Visit tip
- Combine with a tour around the seven-sided town plan of Scherpenheuvel-Zichem or a visit to nearby Averbode. Disabled parking at the main entrance.