Notre-Dame des Récollets in Verviers, Belgium

Notre-Dame des Récollets in Verviers, Belgium

Overlooking the Place du Marché, a stone sculpture of the Virgin and Child has watched over Verviers since the 17th century. Known as Notre-Dame des Récollets, it originally adorned the façade of the church of the Récollets convent, depicting the Virgin Mary standing with the Christ Child on a pedestal at her side. The fame of this statue began with a tragedy. On September 18, 1692, the most violent earthquake in the history of Belgium struck th…