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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Omer de Zegerscappel came into being in the 12th century, with an initial structure consisting of a central nave, narrow collaterals and a salient transept. A square limestone tower, erected at the cross of the transept, supported the bell tower. The building then adopts a form of Latin cross, characteristic of the Romanesque churches of the region. The materials used, such as Saint-Omer limestone, bear witness to the local resources and construction techniques of the time.

During the reign of Charles-Quint, in the middle of the sixteenth century, a south nave was added to the right crusillon of the transept. This partial expansion was part of a more ambitious project, never completed, to add two lateral naves to the primitive ship. However, in 1585, the church was burned and ravaged by the Gueux, a group of Calvinist rebels active in the Dutch revolt against Spanish domination. The building, reduced to a state of ruin, requires a major reconstruction.

Between 1614 and 1633, a restoration campaign gave the church its present appearance. The two gables with a curve and a counter-curve of the western facade, which were redesigned during this period, give it a unique character in Flanders. These architectural elements, rare for the time, illustrate the influence of emerging baroque styles. In the 19th century, several restorations were undertaken to preserve the building, while in 1903-1905, glass painter Louis Koch made stained glass windows, adding an additional artistic dimension.

The church, listed as a Historic Monument in 2006, is now owned by the municipality of Zegerscappel. Its history reflects the political and religious upheavals of Flanders, between religious wars, reconstructions and stylistic adaptations. The square limestone tower, the baroque gables and the stained glass windows of Koch make it a remarkable architectural testimony, at the crossroads of medieval, reborn and modern eras.

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