The Catholic Pilgrim's Guide to Beauraing, Belgium

Beauraing became a major Catholic pilgrimage site after 33 Marian apparitions to five children in 1932-1933, where Mary appeared as the Virgin of the Golden Heart.

On a misty November evening in 1932, five children walked to the convent school of the Sisters of Christian Doctrine to collect young Gilberte Voisin from her lessons. Albert Voisin, age eleven, glanced toward the railway bridge beside the school and saw something extraordinary—a luminous woman dressed in white, walking through the air above the tracks. "Look! The Virgin, dressed in white, is walking above the bridge!" he cried. The other children turned and saw her too: a young woman of perhaps eighteen, her feet hidden by a small cloud, brilliant rays of light forming a crown around her head. This was the first of 33 apparitions that would transform Beauraing, a small French-speaking town in Belgium's Walloon region, into one of the twentieth century's most significant Marian shrines. Over the following five weeks, from November 29, 1932 to January 3, 1933, the Blessed Virgin appeared repeatedly to the five children—Fernande, Gilberte, and Albert Voisin, along with Andrée and Gilberte Degeimbre, ranging in age from nine to fifteen. On December 29, Mary opened her arms in a gesture of farewell and revealed a radiant golden heart surrounded by brilliant rays, the vision that gave her the enduring title "Virgin of the Golden Heart." Today, pilgrims from around the world journey to this sanctuary near the French border, where the hawthorn tree at which Mary appeared still stands, protected within the enclosure that marks the sacred site.

📜 History & Spiritual Significance

The apparitions began simply. Each evening the children would gather at the convent gate, and Mary would appear—sometimes above the railway bridge, but most often near a hawthorn tree in the convent garden. The mother superior, initially skeptical, locked the garden gates and released two large dogs to keep crowds away. Yet when Mary appeared on December 2, even outside the locked gates, the furious dogs stopped barking and lay down motionless. On December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, between 10,000 and 15,000 people gathered. Doctors and psychologists examined the children during their ecstasies, holding lighted matches under their hands—to which they showed no reaction, and afterward bore no burns. When Albert asked "Are you the Immaculate Virgin?" she smiled and nodded. "What do you want?" he pressed. "Always be good," she replied. Mary's messages were remarkably simple yet profound. On December 17, she requested "a chapel." On December 21, she declared, "I am the Immaculate Virgin." On December 23, when asked why she came, she answered, "So that people might come here on pilgrimages." She urged the children repeatedly: "Pray, pray very much. Pray always." The most significant visions came at the end. On December 29, 9,000 people watched as Fernande Voisin saw Mary reveal her Golden Heart—illuminated and surrounded by radiant rays. Over the next two days, the other children witnessed this same vision. During the final apparition on January 3, 1933, with 30,000 people assembled, Mary spoke individually to each child. To Gilberte Voisin she made her great promise: "I will convert sinners." To Andrée Degeimbre she declared: "I am the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven. Pray always. Goodbye." To Fernande she posed the searching questions that echo through the decades: "Do you love my Son? Do you love me? Then sacrifice yourself for me." Bishop Thomas-Louis Heylen of Namur established an investigative commission in 1935. After eight years of examination, his successor Bishop André-Marie Charue authorized public devotion on February 2, 1943. The full approval came on July 2, 1949, along with official recognition of two miraculous healings: Miss Van Laer, cured of spinal deformation and tumors on June 24, 1933, and Mrs. Acar, cured of a uterine tumor on July 30, 1933. The five visionaries all grew up, married, and raised families, living quiet lives of faith. Andrée Degeimbre returned every day for over 44 years to pray the rosary at 6:30 PM by the hawthorn tree. Gilberte Degeimbre, the last surviving visionary, died in 2015 at age 92, never ceasing to testify to what she witnessed that extraordinary winter. Pope St. John Paul II visited Beauraing on May 18, 1985, praying in the garden of apparitions, meeting the visionaries, and celebrating Mass for the gathered faithful.

☩ Sanctuary of Our Lady of Beauraing

The sanctuary complex has grown organically around the original site of the apparitions—the garden of the convent school where Mary appeared to the five children. Today pilgrims enter through gates that once held back curious crowds, walking paths where thousands gathered in hope and prayer.

The Votive Chapel

Local Name: Chapelle Votive Address: Rue de l'Aubépine 6, 5570 Beauraing, Belgium GPS Coordinates: 50.1089113, 4.9612535 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Website: sanctuairedebeauraing.be Dedication: Our Lady of Beauraing, Virgin of the Golden Heart Historical Note: The first chapel built at the shrine stands at the entrance to the sanctuary complex. Construction began in 1947, shortly before the official approval of the apparitions, and was completed in 1954. Architect Michel Claes of Beauraing designed the building in neo-Romanesque style using limestone from the region. Every architectural element carries symbolic meaning: the three keystones of the apse windows evoke both the Trinity and January 3, 1933, the date of the final apparition. The five openings toward the apparition site represent the five visionary children—two for the Degeimbre sisters and three lobes for the Voisin children. A rosette above stylizes a hawthorn flower. Spiritual Importance: Pilgrims gather here for daily prayer and smaller liturgies. The chapel's intimate scale and rich symbolism make it a place of quiet contemplation, its every detail pointing back to Mary's simple but powerful messages of prayer, conversion, and sacrifice.

The Hawthorn Enclosure

The heart of the sanctuary remains the garden where Mary appeared, now known as "the enclosure of the Virgin of Hawthorn." The original hawthorn tree—remarkably still alive despite a fire and a tornado—stands protected within a small enclosure. A statue of Our Lady of Beauraing, created by local sculptor Pierroux de Beauraing according to the children's descriptions, marks the exact spot where Mary appeared. Beds of candles and flowers surround this sacred space, which draws pilgrims to kneel and pray at the very location where heaven touched earth.

The Upper Church (Minor Basilica)

Built on the hillside above the apparition garden, this large concrete structure designed by architects Roger Bastin and G. Van Oost can accommodate up to 5,000 pilgrims. The sanctuary was elevated to the dignity of a Minor Basilica by the Vatican in 2013. Ceramic Stations of the Cross by artist Max Van der Linden adorn the interior. Major pilgrimages and feast day celebrations gather here.

The Crypt of St. John (Rosary Church)

Located beneath the Upper Church, this intimate space holds 700 people and welcomes pilgrims daily for prayer and the recitation of the rosary. A relic of Pope St. John Paul II, who visited Beauraing in 1985, is enshrined here. The crypt houses additional ceramic artworks by Max Van der Linden.

Pro Maria Museum

The sanctuary's souvenir shop houses a remarkable collection of over 800 statues of the Virgin Mary from countries around the world, crafted in every conceivable material. This small museum offers pilgrims a visual testament to the universality of Marian devotion.

🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations

November 29 – Feast of Our Lady of Beauraing Sanctuary of Our Lady of Beauraing. The anniversary of the first apparition draws pilgrims for special Masses and prayers at the hawthorn enclosure, commemorating the evening when five children first glimpsed the Virgin walking above the railway bridge. August 22 – Queenship of Mary / International Pilgrimage Sanctuary of Our Lady of Beauraing. The sanctuary's major annual pilgrimage coincides with the feast of the Queenship of Mary. Pilgrims from Belgium and beyond gather for processions, outdoor Mass, and prayer at the apparition site.

🛏️ Where to Stay

Sanctuary Pilgrim Accommodation 📍 Address: Rue de l'Aubépine 12, 5570 Beauraing, Belgium 🌐 Contact: Via sanctuary reception office The former convent school of the Sisters of Christian Doctrine—the very building where the children were collecting young Gilberte from her lessons when the apparitions began—now serves as the sanctuary's hospitality center. The renovated building provides accommodation and shelter for pilgrims and the sick, with facilities for groups. Contact the sanctuary reception office directly to arrange group lodging. Les Chalets de La Libellule 📍 Address: Rue de Vencimont 1, 5570 Beauraing (Sevry), Belgium 🌐 Website: https://leslibellules.be 🔗 Booking.com: les-chalets-de-la-libellule Set in a lakeside location just five minutes from Beauraing, these charming chalets offer comfortable accommodation with views over the water. The property features a restaurant, garden, hot tub, and conference facilities. An excellent choice for pilgrims seeking a peaceful retreat near the sanctuary. Castel de Pont-à-Lesse 📍 Address: Rue de Pont-à-Lesse 14, 5500 Dinant, Belgium 🌐 Website: https://casteldepontalesse.be/en 🔗 Booking.com: dinant-castel-de-pont-a-lesse This renovated manor house, surrounded by 25 hectares of parkland in the Ardennes, offers 91 comfortable rooms with views over the estate. Amenities include an indoor heated pool, sauna, restaurant, and bar. Located 25 km from Beauraing near the historic town of Dinant, it combines period charm with modern comfort. Popular with pilgrimage groups for its conference facilities and peaceful setting. Le Moulin de Daverdisse 📍 Address: Rue de la Lesse 61, 6929 Daverdisse, Belgium 🌐 Website: https://www.daverdisse.com 🔗 Booking.com: moulin-de-daverdisse-daverdisse A 4-star family-run hotel in the heart of the Ardennes forest, the Moulin de Daverdisse occupies a historic watermill on six hectares of grounds. The 28 rooms combine authentic charm with modern comfort. Features include an indoor pool, sauna, hammam, and an acclaimed gourmet restaurant. Located approximately 35 km from Beauraing, it offers an ideal retreat for pilgrims seeking relaxation amidst nature. Ibis Budget Givet (Budget Option) 📍 Address: Route de Beauraing, 08600 Givet, France 🌐 Website: https://all.accor.com/hotel/8478/index.en.shtml 🔗 Booking.com: ibis-budget-givet Located just across the French border (approximately 8 km from Beauraing), this 70-room budget hotel offers clean, modern accommodation with free parking and Wi-Fi. Each room has a shower, separate WC, and flat-screen TV. Buffet breakfast available. A practical choice for budget-conscious pilgrims—Givet is on the direct road between Charleville-Mézières and Dinant.

🚗 Getting There

By Air:

  • Brussels Airport (BRU): 120 km north
  • Charleroi Airport (CRL): 65 km northeast
  • Liège Airport (LGG): 95 km northeast

By Train: Beauraing has its own train station. From Brussels, travel via Namur with a connection at Dinant (approximately 2 hours total). The sanctuary is a short walk from the station. By Car: From Brussels: Take the E411 motorway south toward Namur, then continue toward Dinant and follow signs to Beauraing. The journey takes approximately 90 minutes. The sanctuary offers parking for pilgrims. Within Belgium: Beauraing lies in the Famenne region of Wallonia, in the Province of Namur, only 5 km from the French border. The town is well-signposted from major routes.

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🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations

Banneux (97 km) – The Belgian apparition site of Our Lady of the Poor, where Mary appeared to eleven-year-old Mariette Beco from January 15 to March 2, 1933—just weeks after the Beauraing apparitions concluded. Pilgrims often visit both Belgian Marian shrines together. Dinant (25 km) – This picturesque town on the Meuse River is home to the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame, with its distinctive onion dome, and the birthplace of Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone. Namur (60 km) – The capital of Wallonia houses the Cathedral of Saint Aubain and the historic citadel overlooking the confluence of the Sambre and Meuse rivers.

🪶 Closing Reflection

"Do you love my Son? Do you love me? Then sacrifice yourself for me."

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— The Blessed Virgin Mary to Fernande Voisin, January 3, 1933