Bergenkruis (Destelbergen)

Bergenkruis is a small but spiritually significant pilgrimage site in Destelbergen, an eastern municipality bordering Ghent in the province of East Flanders, Belgium. Centred on a penitential cross and a calvary, it has drawn worshippers from the Ghent area for generations, especially around Ascension Day.

Where is Bergenkruis and how did it get its name?

The name refers to the cross ("kruis") that now stands in the north of Destelbergen, near Kasteel Succa. The site sits in a quiet, green setting away from the bustle of the nearby city, a setting that has long lent itself to prayer and reflection for visiting pilgrims.

How did the site's history begin?

The tradition tied to a cross in this area is said to reach back to the early Middle Ages. According to local accounts, early missionaries erected a cross at a spot known as 't Pauwken, on a bend of the river Scheldt near the former village of Thesla — a location that had previously served as a place of worship for old Celtic or Germanic deities. Replacing pagan cult sites with Christian symbols in this way was a common practice of the period.

Some accounts link the site to the transfer of the relics of Saint Livinus from Sint-Lievens-Houtem in 1007, suggesting that the accompanying procession may have passed through the Destelbergen area. For a long time it was claimed that the Bergenkruis pilgrimage was the oldest in Flanders, but later historical research disproved that claim.

Why did the cross change location?

Available evidence suggests the original cross first stood at 't Pauwken before being relocated in the 18th century to the north of Destelbergen, exactly where it stands today, next to Kasteel Succa. Relocating sacred markers in this way was not unusual at the time, particularly as pilgrimage routes shifted or land ownership changed.

How did the pilgrimage tradition develop?

The organised pilgrimage to Bergenkruis has documented roots reaching back to at least 1871, when an official pilgrimage was first arranged. A turning point in the site's history came with a fire set at the cross in July 1898 — an event that, somewhat paradoxically, helped raise the profile of the annual pilgrimage, which has drawn growing numbers of participants ever since.

What can visitors see at the site today?

The centrepiece of the complex is a calvary raised on a base bearing the inscription "ANNO/1903", marking the year of its construction. Around it runs a semicircular ambulatory lined with fourteen Stations of the Cross rendered in half-relief sculpture. These reliefs date from 1898 and are signed by J. De Visscher.

Since the first half of the 20th century, the site has hosted an annual pilgrimage held on Ascension Day, bringing together worshippers from Destelbergen and neighbouring parishes, including the adjoining municipality of Melle.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bergenkruis a church? No — it is an open-air devotional site built around a cross and calvary, surrounded by Stations of the Cross, rather than a church building in the traditional sense.

When does the main pilgrimage take place? Every year on Ascension Day, following a tradition that has been in place since the first half of the 20th century.

Is it really the oldest pilgrimage in Flanders? Although this was claimed for a long time, historical research has since disproved the claim.

Where exactly is the cross located? In the north of Destelbergen, near Kasteel Succa, where it was moved in the 18th century.