Saint Anthony’s Church

Saint-Antoine church, Franciscan witness of Liège

The Liège audio-guided tour stops you before Saint-Antoine church, one of the oldest witnesses of the Franciscan presence in the city. Around 1240, the disciples of Saint Francis settled here, in direct contact with the people, in a spirit of simplicity.

From Franciscan austerity to baroque

Built in 1244 in coal sandstone, the church originally reflected the simplicity of the Friars Minor. The centuries added a monumental baroque façade and an interior decorated with stucco in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Damaged by a flying bomb in 1944, it was restored in a style close to its medieval appearance, with the thirteenth-century high altar set back in place and old gravestones integrated into the flooring.

What there is to see

The church keeps precious stained-glass windows made after the designs of the painter Lambert Lombard. Deconsecrated, it has changed use, but it keeps the memory of eight centuries of spiritual life. Note the contrast between the soberness of the medieval sandstone and the baroque additions, as well as the old gravestones that recall, with respect, past generations.

Practical information

Saint-Antoine church stands a few steps from the Meuse, not far from the town hall, in the historic heart of Liège. Now deconsecrated, it has a particular use and its access conditions may vary; it is best to enquire locally. The façade can be contemplated freely from the street.

When was the church built?

It was completed in 1244, in coal sandstone, by the Franciscan Friars Minor settled in Liège around 1240. A baroque façade was added later.

What happened in 1944?

The church was damaged by a flying bomb in 1944. Its restoration brought it closer to its medieval appearance, with the thirteenth-century high altar set back in place.