Forest Chapel of Our Lady of Distress (Buggenhout Forest)

Forest Chapel of Our Lady of Distress (Buggenhout Forest)

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Forest Chapel of Our Lady of Distress (Buggenhout Forest)

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Location: Buggenhout, Dendermonde, East Flanders, Flanders, Belgium

Tips

June 11, 2023

Hiking

The Boskapel was founded in the early 16th century by Jacoba van Heffene, the widow of knight Jan de Rijcke, drossaard of Grimbergen and Buggenhout, on the spot where the …

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🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

March 26, 2024

Hiking

The forest chapel has been Buggenhout's most famous monument for centuries. According to legend, this 500-year-old Baroque chapel was built by Jacoba van Heffene to commemorate her husband Jan De Rijcke. He shot next to a wild boar during a hunt, after which the animal turned on him. A memorial plaque in the chapel tells the story of the fatal accident.

The Boskapel is dedicated to Our Lady of Need and is still a place of peace and reflection today. Around the chapel there is a circle of 15 statues of rock sculptures.

Source: buggenhout.be/product/1067/boskapel

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Anne&Nera

November 4, 2021

Hiking

The chapel was built in 1504 and extension works took place from 1664 to 1677. These works lasted thirteen years because of wars and looting in the area. The de Bournonville family, the then lords of Buggenhout, adorned the gable with their coat of arms, which later became the coat of arms of the municipality. To complete the works, a stone statue of Our Lady of Need of God, to whom the chapel is dedicated, was placed above the entrance. The sculptor was Filip De Backer.

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