Lier Things to Do

This pump is a recognised monument since 1980. It was built in 1835.

It is beautifull decorated with 4 blue fishes to commerate the square it is located. This the square of the fishmarket. And the shield is the shield of the city Lier.

We visited Lier two times on a sunday and were puzzled about this square. It looks like a statue is missing in the middle of the green fences. Tom is demonstrating what we thaught.

Later we found out what it is:
This is the fishmarket.

In the old days the fresh fish was brought in along the Nete on typical flat boats. Today these boats are used for tourist trips and the fish is brought here by truck.
But the auction of the fish is still here. In the old days it was done by lowering the price untill someone bought it, but today it is the highest bid. The buyers are along the green fences and the fish is displayed in the middle. Payment is cash, this is unique in the modern world.

The Saint Gummarus church is an example of the Brabantine gothic style.

The tower of the Saint Gummarus church is the oldest part of the building, it dates back to 1378. The choir of the church was completed between 1475 and 1516. Nave, transept and side chapels date from the 16th century. The church was built by the Brabantine architects Anton Keldermans and Domien de Waghemakere.

You can visit the church inside, if you pay an entrance fee.

The tower of the St Gummarus is often called de Peperbus (peppermill).
In 1378 the building of the tower began and in 1395 it was there. In 1457 the rooftiles were added and the tower looked gothic. But after fires in 1609 and 1702 the top of the tower was redesigned in rococo-style by Van Baurscheit . Gothic was not longer fashion then. So today you see the tower at the bottom real gothic, the middle is baroque and the top is absolutely rococo. This specific form gives the tower its nickname Peperbus.

The Fortuin house is not easily missed. Its white stands out with the green-red and white shutters. It most probably dates from the 17th century. Was built with bricks and natural stone and then painted white. It used to be a storage place And after being a lemonade factory and a workshop, since its restoration in 1965 it is a restaurant.

This probably the oldest building left in Lier. The Roman-Gotic chapel was built approx. 1255. The chapel was robbed by the french and burnt down in the first world war. In 1920 retsoration began.
When you enter do look at the ceiling and notice the saintmedaillions. (see picture)

More interesting things:
- a painting about murder of a priest. (unknown painter, 1689) based on a myth about vikings murdering the priest and turning blind at that moment.
- behind the altar is the empty grave of Sint-Gummarus, patronsaint of Lier.

The church in the beguinage dates back to the 13th century. But the present one is built in the 17th century. The last extension occurred in 1721-1726 with the cultivation of the Grachtkant. And recently (2003) the church was renovated.

It is open between eastern and september on sunday from 14:00 and 17:00

The Beguinage of Lier dates from the 13th century. Beguinages were founded in most medieval cities of the low countries at the time of the crusades. Women who had lost their husbands wanted to live in protected communities. Most did not want to join a convent or a monastery, where they had to make vows. In the beguinages they lived without having to make vows. Most beguinages were a group a small houses, forming a separate village inside a city.
The beguinage of Lier is a streetbeguinage as opposed to the one in Brugge which is a square beguinage. It covers an area of two hectares and has a total of 162 houses, spread over eleven streets.
Most of the houses here date back to the 17th century. The baroque entrance gate and the beguinage church are also from that time.

Walk along the cobblestone carfree streets and enjoy. Or if you don't go to Lier see the travelogue for more pictures to get the idea.