7 The Black Madonna of Walcourt, Province de Namur, Belgium

The Madonna of Walcourt, dating from the late 10th century, is one of the oldest European Madonna statues. According to tradition, the statue was carved by Saint Materne, a disciple of the apostle Peter.
In the early Middle Ages, Saint Materne, then bishop of Tongeren, christianized the region. He ended up in the village of Walcourt. After converting the villagers, he built a sanctuary on a hilltop (probably replacing a pagan one), where he placed a self made wooden statue of Mary.
When during the 13th century a fire destroyed the church and most of the village, the statue escaped by flying over the flames and hiding in a tree. The locals were unable to move the statue.  In desperation, they called on the help of their lord, Duke Thiery of Rochefort. When he approached the tree, his horse refused three times to go further. The Duke dismounted and continued on foot. He promised the Madonna to rebuild her church, and to the surprise of the spectators, the Madonna threw herself into the arms of the Duke ... 

The face without the mask. The Madonna as she is now is wearing a silver mask. It dates from after the fire in the 13th century.

 

Floor patterns in the basilica

Ex-votos

Enigmatic figure in the outside wall

In a wide circle around the town, little field chapels can be found, some of them made by farmers.