Look right in front of you for a pale, pointed Gothic chapel with a steep spire and a small round turret pressed between two larger buildings.
Welcome to St. James’ Chapel, where every stone could whisper tales of fire, faith, and - believe it or not - Spanish soldiers in search of a good sermon. Imagine yourself standing here in 1383, as city leaders hurried to finish this Gothic gem just in time for pilgrims tracking the route to Compostela. The walls, tall and slightly worn today, witnessed a fiery disaster in 1479, when flames danced along the roof and locals rushed to save what they could. If that wasn't enough excitement, the 16th-century iconoclasts stormed through, leaving the chapel in such a state it needed a full re-blessing-now that’s what I call spring cleaning!
Fast forward to the Spanish era, when 38 different Spanish governors made Lier their base. The Jesuits took over, turning this chapel into the favorite church for Spanish troops-no wonder it’s still called “the Spanish chapel” by locals! Step inside and you’ll see Spanish coats of arms silently keeping watch. But World War I brought tragedy again, when the German army set the chapel ablaze. Fear not-it rose from the ashes, restored by local builder Florent D’Hulst, who gave it a new lease on life. Since 1939, it’s been protected, a proud witness to centuries of drama and devotion. Now, take a deep breath-can you sense those layers of history swirling around you?
