Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
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A majestic building, the symbol of Tournai. Her The unusual shapes, led by five towers, the subtle and harmonious combination of the Romanesque style, visible in the nave and transept of the cathedral, with the Gothic style in the choir, are an example of the mastery of artists of bygone eras and the reason for the inclusion of the Cathedral on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.
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Earlier, in 1936, the Cathedral of Tournai was classified as historical heritage of the French-speaking part of Belgium. It is believed that The construction of the Romanesque elements of the cathedral began in the first half of the 12th century. During archaeological works carried out in the temple, the tombs of two bishops of Tournai, Baldwin I and Radbod II, were unearthed. Research has shown that other churches once existed on the site where the cathedral stands. The first one was built on the orders of the then ruler of Tournai, Clovis I, from the Merovingian dynasty.
Dimensions of the temple
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Length of the cathedral: 134 meters
Transept length: 67 meters Chancel length: 58 meters |
Chancel height: 33 meters
Nave length: 48 meters Height of the towers: 83 meters |
The construction of the Romanesque, nine-bay nave began around 1100. Its regular four-level shape, reminiscent of an aqueduct, evokes the impression of viewing a building from ancient Rome. Above the entrance is a beautiful neo-Romanesque rose window, seven meters in diameter, towering over the large organ. The western facade consists of a pointed-arch porch with a double portal. Its lower parts are decorated with sculptures from the 14th-17th centuries. They depict saints, episodes from the city's history, and scenes from the Old Testament. The temple has five towers. Four of them have seven storeys each and rise to a height of 83 meters. The fifth tower, located above the rectangular intersection of the naves, has six storeys. The transept and nave were consecrated in 1171.
Interior of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary
During the iconoclast revolt raging in the Netherlands, many sculptures and valuable documents were destroyed. In 1794, French revolutionary troops caused further damage to the cathedral. In the years 1850-1860 the temple was renovated. The next conservation works took place after World War II. Currently, work is underway on a large scale in the cathedral. For several years now, the foundations of the towers, which were damaged by the tornado that hit the city in 1999, have been reinforced.
One of the cathedral's greatest treasures is the magnificent Renaissance rood screen, created between 1570 and 1573 by the Antwerp sculptor Corneille Floris. In the Gothic chapel of St. Louis there are two famous paintings: Rubens's Deliverance of Souls from Purgatory , from 1634, and the Crucifixion , painted by Joardens. The exterior of the chapel roof is covered with beautiful colored panels dating from 1729. Chapel of St. Vincent, which connects the Bishop's Palace with the cathedral's nave, is a magnificent example of the beginnings of Gothic architecture in the Scheldt valley. It was consecrated in 1198.
One of the cathedral's greatest treasures is the magnificent Renaissance rood screen, created between 1570 and 1573 by the Antwerp sculptor Corneille Floris. In the Gothic chapel of St. Louis there are two famous paintings: Rubens's Deliverance of Souls from Purgatory , from 1634, and the Crucifixion , painted by Joardens. The exterior of the chapel roof is covered with beautiful colored panels dating from 1729. Chapel of St. Vincent, which connects the Bishop's Palace with the cathedral's nave, is a magnificent example of the beginnings of Gothic architecture in the Scheldt valley. It was consecrated in 1198.
Temple treasury
Among the most valuable exhibits are two unique reliquaries. The first is the Romanesque-Gothic châsse de Notre-Dame, from 1205, made by Nicolas de Verdun from silver-plated and gilded copper, decorated with sculptures of figures dressed in flowing togas and medallions depicting scenes from the life of Christ.
The second reliquary is the chasse de Saint-Eleuthère from 1247. These two magnificent examples of medieval goldsmithing were added to the Cultural Heritage List of the Walloon-Brussels Federation in 2011. The treasury also contains excellent liturgical vestments from centuries ago, a collection of gold objects and tapestries.
In February 2008, a group of armed men broke into the vault, terrorizing employees and visitors with weapons. A priceless Byzantine Cross from the 10th century was stolen, in the Cathedral of Tournai from the 13th century, as well as many precious treasures.
The second reliquary is the chasse de Saint-Eleuthère from 1247. These two magnificent examples of medieval goldsmithing were added to the Cultural Heritage List of the Walloon-Brussels Federation in 2011. The treasury also contains excellent liturgical vestments from centuries ago, a collection of gold objects and tapestries.
In February 2008, a group of armed men broke into the vault, terrorizing employees and visitors with weapons. A priceless Byzantine Cross from the 10th century was stolen, in the Cathedral of Tournai from the 13th century, as well as many precious treasures.
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Cathedral
April 1-October 31 Monday-Friday 9:00-18:00 Saturday, Sunday, holidays 9:00-12:00 and 13:00-18:00 November 1-March 31 Monday-Friday: 9:00-17:00 Saturday, Sunday: 9:00-12:00 and 13:00-17:00 Both the Cathedral and the treasury are closed to visitors during masses from Monday to Friday: 11:00-12:00, and on Saturday and Sunday: 10:00-11:00 Admission to the cathedral is free. |
Treasury
April 1-October 31 Monday: 13:00-18:00 Tuesday-Friday: 10:00-18:00 Saturday, Sunday, holidays: 13:00-18:00 November 1-March 31 Monday-Friday: 9:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00 Saturday, Sunday, holidays: 14.00-17.00 Please note that the ticket office closes half an hour before the vault closes. The cost of a ticket to the vault is 2.5 Euro. |