Cathedral of Our Lady

The five towers of Tournai Cathedral give the building its extraordinary character, making it unique in Europe.

This striking ensemble consists of four angular towers arranged around a central fifth tower, in a geometric pattern similar to the five on a die, also called a quincunx . All five towers are approximately the same height, around 83 meters, a harmonious height never equaled elsewhere.

The structure symbolizes more than just architecture:

• Architecturally it was an innovative, Romanesque precursor, later even a source of inspiration for other churches, including the Dom Tower in Utrecht.

• The pattern of the five towers refers to both cosmic and Christian symbolism: it unites the Cross of St. Andrew (X-shape with the four corner towers and the central tower), the Greek cross (+-shape), and the idea of the Heavenly Jerusalem as described in the Revelation of John – a heavenly city, descended into the midst of the earthly realm.

• The towers themselves have names and each has its own function and history:

  • The middle one is called the Lantern Tower.

  • Surrounding the tower are the Treille Tower, Pontoise Tower (with its heavy Marie-Pontoise bell), Johannes Tower (named after the St. John's Altar), and Brunin Tower (once a prison). Each tower has distinctive features, such as gilded sirens and banners bearing the city's coat of arms.

• The cathedral as a whole has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2000 and, together with the belfry, is an unmistakable landmark of Tournai.

Pascal Brackman