Collegial Saints Pierre Paul and Guidon.

The Roman crypt of Collegial of the Saints Pierre Paul and Guidon. located place of Valiancy, in Anderlecht is not only one of the most remarkable churches of the Brabant, but its crypt with five naves is, moreover, one of the oldest constructions of Belgium. It dates from the XI century. A strange sarcophagus from the vault probably contains the remainders of Saint Handlebar, who died in year 1012, venerated like the guard of the cattle, and in particular of the horse.

Those whom do not know Collegial Saint-Guidon should try to visit it because, for those interested in the Christian and alchemical symbolic system, it is a true gold mine (the church has been just restored).  

Its crypt is extremely curious. It rests on four pillars coming from a Roman temple probably built on the same site, and curiously placed in reverse (head of the capital at the bottom).

Between these four pillars appears what one calls " the Tomb of Saint Handlebar ". It is kind of a very low dolmen under which the pilgrims, going to Compostelle, must pass. The celebration day of Saint Handlebar, at midday, the sun passes by a narrow window hidden very high in the wall of the crypt and passes on " the tomb ".

The Collegial is a remarkable example of Gothic art. First, were built the two principal naves, lit by strange triangular windows, then the transept and the vault of Blessed Sacrament. The church was thus finished about year 1400, but building of the towers only started in 1517 and the spire placed in 1893, during restoration work.

Although one does not have any certainty about the construction period, one supposes that the original building was already started before the XI century. But the actual buildings currently date from the XIV and the XVI centuries; they form a single Gothic unit. The left wall of the transept shows the last vestige of the original Roman church. The two mausoleums of the choir, that of Jean de Walcourt and of Arnould de Hornes, Lord of Gaasbeek, pretty old statues and some frescos of the XV and XVI centuries are undoubtedly worth  the visit.

According to tradition, on the celebration day of Saint Handlebar, horsemen join in for a race around (three times) the church. The winner has the honor to enter the church on his horse. It is an extremely old rite still seen in many Celtic places.

The place always seems to have inspired spirituality since Erasme had been established near the Collegial.