Tag Archives: Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire

Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: Belgium, Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Travel

Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire

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Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire
“Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire” — Altar and stained glass windows at the Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire, Brussels.

This beautiful church in Brussels, the Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire, doesn’t seem to be on the tourist map. But we think it was well worth the visit. We walked there from our lodgings in the touristy old part of Brussels. Walking away from there changed our perspective on the city. It appeared that we may have been the only tourists at this church.

Entering the church it was rather dark. But once our eyes adjusted to the natural light, we noticed that sunlight was streaming in through stained glass windows along its east side . At the front of the church, the stained glass windows comprised most of the vertical surfaces, and this created a lovely, light-filled area.

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G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

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Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: Belgium, Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Travel

Stained Glass, Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire

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Stained Glass, Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire
“Stained Glass, Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire” — Columns and stained glass windows in the Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire.

We came to the Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire midway rhrough a very long walk in Brussels, last year. The idea was to go beyond the busy central old district where we were staying to see some other parts of the city. (That central district has a lot to offer, but it is not the whole of Brussels.) We came to the church, walked around it outside, then entered. We were almost the only people there, probably because it isn’t on the tourist map.

It is a beautiful church, full of light from its extensive and tall stained glass windows. In some ways it brought to mind La Chapelle of Paris, though here you could just walk into it. (Accessing La Chapelle is trickier due to its location and security concerns.) I made this photograph along one side of the church where morning light was gently streaming through those beautiful windows.

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G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

Photographs: Belgium, Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Travel

Stained Glass Light

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Stained Glass Light
“Stained Glass Light” — Beams of colorful light from stained glass windows on the stone floor of the Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire, Brussels.

First impressions on entering old European churches like the Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire in Belgium focus on the architecture, the scale, and the quietness of these places. If you have some time to wander — and you should take that time if you visit them — smaller details start to emerge. Stained glass windows originally provoked me to look up at them, but later I learned to look down at the light they cast.

The first time I understood the projected light was during a late-afternoon visit to the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. The low angle of early evening light sent colorful beams of light everywhere. The effect at this smaller Brussels church was not quite as broadly spectacula, but its beauty still caught my attention.

Leave a comment or question using the form. (If you are reading this on the home page, click the article title to see the full article and the comment form.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: Belgium, Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Travel

Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire Interior

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Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire Interior
“Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire” — The interior of the Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire, Brussels.

During our visit to Brussels near the beginning of June, we stayed near the old central part of the city, an area of remarkable architecture, many places to eat… and a whole lot of tourists. In many ways it was a good location — we could easily walk there from the train station, and food options were abundant. But eventually we decided to take a very long walk out of this area.

That eventually took us to quieter neighborhoods and districts and past the Eglise de Notre-Dame Des Victoire, a beautiful older church. Like so many similar European churches, it is architecturally impressive, and I enjoyed photographing it. The light is often beautiful — soft and diffused, with spots of color and direct light coming through stained glass windows.

Leave a comment or question using the form. (If you are reading this on the home page, click the article title to see the full article and the comment form.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.