In Hollogne-aux-Pierres, in the municipality of Grâce-Hollogne in the province of Liège, a Romanesque bell tower now stands alone in the landscape, a poignant remnant of the former Saint-Pierre Church, which was partially demolished in 2017; Closed in the late 1990s after being weakened by the 1983 earthquake that struck the Liège region, the church was in danger of collapsing. While the main building has disappeared, its iconic Romanesque tower has been preserved as a testament to the past and a local heritage landmark.
Galerie photos
A church scarred by the 1983 earthquake
On November 8, 1983, an earthquake struck the Liège region. Although it did not cause a major disaster, it left behind a number of weakened buildings. The Church of Saint-Pierre in Hollogne-aux-Pierres was among the structures affected.
Over time, the structure deteriorated and became unsafe. In the late 1990s, the church was officially closed for safety reasons. For nearly twenty years, the building remained unused, until the decision was made: demolition was inevitable.
In September 2017, demolition began. Little by little, the walls came down. But one element escaped the rubble: the tower.
A Preserved Romanesque Tower
The preserved bell tower is a Romanesque tower, the oldest and most iconic remnant of the building. Its massive, austere, and vertical architecture contrasts with the absence of the rest of the church.
Today, this tower stands as a fragment of history suspended in space, almost unreal. It no longer rings for services, it no longer overlooks a nave… but it continues to exist, alone, as a symbol. This kind of situation—a bell tower without a church—remains rare in Belgium and attracts the curiosity of enthusiasts of unusual heritage.
A Heritage Landmark in Grâce-Hollogne
Located in Hollogne-aux-Pierres, one of the municipalities of Grâce-Hollogne, the bell tower has become a heritage site deliberately preserved to maintain a record of local history.
