Cathedral of Our Lady - Tournai

The Cathedral of Our Lady is the cathedral of the Diocese of Tournai . It is notable for its five equally high towers . This Romanesque cathedral was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

With its 134 meters in length, the cathedral is one of the largest churches in Belgium. Architecturally, it is one of Belgium's most important buildings, a pioneering Romanesque forerunner with numerous elements that would reign supreme in the Gothic period. Subsequently , no one succeeded anywhere in reproducing the harmonious image with the five equally high towers.

Construction took place in three major phases. The oldest is the three-aisled nave, in Romanesque style. For a Romanesque building, this cathedral is very well lit. The four corner towers around the transept, and the crossing tower in between, dominate the cityscape with their 83 meters. This composition may well have been an original creation , which would have an impact on later buildings. With the exception of the towers, it was completely finished when it was dedicated in 1171.

During the iconoclasm that hit Tournai on August 23, 1566, the cathedral was also broken. For example, the 14th-century statue of Our Lady of the Sick in the main portal was decapitated
After a tornado in 1999, the stability of this huge structure was endangered, and stabilization works became necessary. As a result, only part of the cathedral can be visited.

Willem Vandenameele