Cross Aarschot

Project Description:

The cross of Aarschot is located in the cemetery of Ourodenberg since the end of the 19th century when the then city council decided to move the cemetery from the city center to this spot. Within the framework of the “360° heritage project” in which the province of Flemish Brabant financially supports the restoration of non-protected pieces of heritage that are nevertheless inseparable from the landscape, this project also came about. Under the impetus of alderman for Urban Heritage, Monuments and Church Foundations Bob Verstraete (Open VLD), and under the guidance of Stefan Smets of Regional Landscapes North-Hageland and Dominique Vanlommel of the city of Aarschot. AltNova arranged the disassembly, restoration in workshop and reassembly of this cast iron cross, as well as the complete restoration of the pedestal in bluestone. After dismantling the cross, Altnova first made a thorough study on the feasibility of the restoration, after which, in a second phase, the actual restoration of natural stone and cast iron cross was taken care of. The cross is by the hand of former foundry “Vanaerschot”, based in Herentals. But with this name still a fine coincidence for its final destination in Aarschot.