Pont des trous - Tournai

This is one of the most prestigious remains of medieval military architecture in Belgium and is the only surviving medieval water gate in Europe. She owes its current name to the proximity of locks that were called 'trou'.

Construction in the 13th century took about 50 years : from the construction of the first tower in 1281 to the erection of the arches around 1329. At the beginning of the Second World War, the central arch was blown up by the retreating English troops . During the reconstruction in 1948, the Pont des Trous was again raised by 2.40 m to facilitate navigation and develop the river economy.

In 2019, the three arches were “deconstructed” to increase their navigable dimensions and stimulate river traffic.

This work was part of the third enclosure of Tournai, also called the second municipal enclosure (13th century). It defended the course of the Scheldt as it crossed the city and was therefore one of Tournai's two water gates. Sliding gates made it possible to block the course of the river. The tower on the left bank - "tour du Bourdiel" - dates from 1281. The tower on the right bank, called the "tour de la Thieulerie", was built between 1302 and 1304. The gate towers have three levels.

In 1340, during the siege of the city , an attack was made by Flemish militia and English troops. According to legend, this attack was repelled thanks to the appearance - in the smoke of the battles - of the Virgin Mary at the head of an army of angels... As an ex-voto, the Thieulerie tower housed for centuries a statue depicting the Blessed Virgin . The latter will disappear during the restoration of 1847. Today, the niche above the door of the Thieulerie Tower bears witness to this history.

Willem Vandenameele