The search for reflection has occupied people for centuries. This quest is still central to this basilica. Sittard has a recognizable and beautiful city silhouette.
The basilica of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart occupies a prominent place here, together with the tower of St. Peter's Church. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is one of the most successful examples of Gothic Revival in Limburg.
The basilica is one of the wonder locations on the
Route full of Wonder . During this cycling route through the Grensmaasvallei, more than 30 locations can be visited digitally when they are not open to the public. Curious about the stories or take a look inside? View the
360-degree tour or listen to the
audio tour .
Various sacred pieces from abroad have been incorporated into the church. Thus, on June 2, 1875, the first stone was laid, coming from the catacombs of Callistus in Rome and donated by Pope Pius IX.
In addition, two holy water vessels are present in the church, which are made of stones from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem and from the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The church was built in neo-Gothic style, a style that was widely used in the period 1860-1910.
In the nineteenth century, people regained interest in the architecture of the Middle Ages, with its Gothic cathedrals. The interior of the basilica is therefore particularly richly decorated and striking.
The high vaults of the nave and the presence of the two galleries muffle the light, so that the church is rather dark, almost mysterious. The choir and the altar are illuminated by the windows of the tower.
In addition, the basilica has some beautiful stained glass windows. Spirituality is an important theme for the basilica. The meaning of spirituality is centralized by the grace image of Our Lady above the altar.
This statue shows Mary with outstretched arms and open hands. In this way she distributes God's grace to the people. The quest for reflection is timeless. For hundreds of years, people have found their way to the grace image of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in the Sittard basilica.
This text has been automatically translated using an online translation service.
