1
00:00:02,289 --> 00:00:05,265
This small Romanesque church
is one of the oldest in Heverlee,

2
00:00:05,365 --> 00:00:07,732
and perhaps in the entire of Leuven!

3
00:00:07,832 --> 00:00:11,439
It was built around the year 1000
as a Heverlee parish church.

4
00:00:11,982 --> 00:00:17,474
It was abandoned in the 18th century
in favour of a new, more centrally located church.

5
00:00:17,842 --> 00:00:21,917
Shortly before the Second World War,
the Romanesque remains were unearthed.

6
00:00:22,237 --> 00:00:26,642
When the turmoil of the war had passed,
the renovation of the church could finally begin.

7
00:00:26,768 --> 00:00:30,320
But of course not all of the
building we see today is original.

8
00:00:30,649 --> 00:00:33,480
It was rebuilt and restored by Raymond Lemaire,

9
00:00:33,589 --> 00:00:36,451
who is famous for his work
with the Great Beguinage.

10
00:00:36,607 --> 00:00:40,580
Thanks to his fine renovation work
and its spectacular natural setting,

11
00:00:40,740 --> 00:00:43,580
this picturesque little building
is regularly used

12
00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:48,279
for the weddings and christenings
of KU Leuven staff and their children.

13
00:00:49,424 --> 00:00:53,188
Old or not, I'm a fan, and I regularly
come here to relax.