But inside, the damage would be limited, according to the Historia community, a non-profit organization campaigning for the protection of heritage. This Saturday morning, a team was able to have access, with the agreement of the fire captain, above the vaults and inside the church.

« If the frame has almost entirely been burned, we are told that the building has not moved and that the vault has fully taken the weight of the frame when it fell little by little on it, » explains the non-profit organization in a statement.

« The interior damage is extremely minimal and particularly reassuring in terms of restoration. The soot did not reach the various ornamental fabrics and carved woodwork at all. We are also told that the building is still dry, unlike the adjacent building. However, the firefighters are still very attentive to any new start in view of the area to be covered. »

The fire started yesterday at about 13:30. There were no injuries. The fire, on the other hand, caused the paralysis of the Binche city center, which was added to the work on Avenue Charles Deliège. Several fire starts have been identified, suggesting that the fire is criminal.

The church had been unoccupied for many years. Deserted by the faithful, expensive to maintain, it was desecrated in 2012 and put up for sale by the Bishopric of Tournai. Several owners and project leaders then succeeded each other, with a last change of ownership taking place in 2019. The Recollets church has been a listed building since 1976. It formed an ensemble with the rest house located next door, which was the convent of the Recollets.