Archaeological digs reveal Dinant’s Collégiale history
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Archaeologists working on restoration of the Collégiale of Dinant, in Belgium, uncovered evidence of earlier structures beneath the church.
The Agence wallonne du Patrimoine (AWaP) conducted the digs as part of work to stabilize the church’s south porch, beginning in March 2026. They discovered a floor level 1.2 meters lower than the current one, indicating a portal once stood where the current porch is located. This suggests the present structure was added later and explains current stability issues.
The team also found foundations belonging to two small houses that leaned against the Collégiale until the 19th century. Evidence suggests these buildings, constructed around the 17th century, housed both shops and living spaces, including latrines. Archaeologists are now trying to determine who lived in these houses, theorizing they may have been occupied by canons, members of the church chapter, after they moved out of a medieval cloister.
The underground research is complete, but the AWaP will continue archaeological work on the Collégiale building itself. They plan to compare findings from the excavations with the church’s existing structure during the next phases of the restoration project.
