Basilica of the Sacred Heart

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart (colloquially called the Basilica of Koekelberg, because located on the Koekelberg plateau), is a Catholic religious building located straddling the municipalities of Koekelberg and Ganshoren, in the Brussels Region in Belgium. Conceived at the beginning of the twentieth century as a national monument and, after the First World War, as a pilgrimage center to the Sacred Heart, the “Art Deco” style basilica was not formally consecrated until October 13 and 14, 19511. It has the status national sanctuary2, and is still the site of large national Catholic gatherings.