Collegiate Church of Saint Begga

About

The Collegiate Church of Saint Begga (French: Collégiale Sainte-Begge) is a collegiate church in Andenne, Belgium. Founded in the 7th century, the currently visible church dates from 1770 to 1775 and was designed by architect Laurent-Benoît Dewez.

The church traces its origins to the 7th century, when an abbey was founded in Andenne by Saint Begga. By the 11th century, the abbey had been transformed into a collegiate church, which later developed into an aristocratic community centred around it. Eventually, the living quarters took on a more monastic character and had their own churches. By the 18th century, there were seven churches and corresponding communities, all surrounded by a wall. The current church replaced these earlier structures and was built between 1770–1775, based on designs by the architect Laurent-Benoît Dewez.

The church is built of limestone, the floor plan consisting of a nave with two aisles, five bays long. The transept has two side chapels and ends in two apses ; the choir also ends in an apse. The façade is in two levels wherein, the first is decorated with Ionic pilasters and crowned by an entablature ; and the second storey has Corinthian pilasters and is crowned by a pediment.