Collegiate Church of Saint Begga

The church traces its origins to the 7th century, when an abbey was founded in Andenne by Saint Begga.^[1] 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.^[2] The current church replaced these earlier structures and was built between 1770–1775, based on designs by the architect Laurent-Benoît Dewez.^[3]

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.^[3] 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.^[3]