Page 188 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Belgium & Luxembourg

186  BEL GIUM AND L UXEMBOURG REGION B Y REGION

Tournai: Cathédrale Notre-Dame
One of the great landmarks of Belgium, Cathédrale Notre-Dame has a long history.
Tournai’s first bishop, St Eleutherius, built a cathedral on this site in the 5th century.
The existing church, however, was begun in the 12th century. Construction started at
the western end in Romanesque style, and progressed eastwards, becoming Gothic in
the 13th-century chancel. The impressive interior was once more elaborate, but much
of the decoration was destroyed by Protestant iconoclasts in 1566. Considerable damage
was also inflicted by German bombing in 1940. A tornado struck in 1999, highlighting
the fragility of the building. In 2000, the cathedral became a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. Some areas of the cathedral will be closed to the public
until 2025 while resoration work is ongoing.

. The Five Towers
The cluster of pyramid-tipped
towers soaring from the
transept and crossing, impart a
distinctive individuality to the
cathedral. Completed in the
early 13th century, they reach a
height of 83 m (272 ft).

KEY
1 The Chapelle St Louis contains
paintings by Jordaens and Rubens.
2 The Romanesque nave has
three external tiers of rounded
arches. Two flanking aisles help
support its high vaulted ceiling.
3 The central tower, the oldest, is
a “lantern tower”, allowing light into
the crossing between the nave and
the transept.
4 The chancel, built between
1243 and 1255, was the first
example of the new French
Gothic style in Belgium.
5 The transept separates the
Romanesque nave from the Gothic
choir, both of which, unusually, are
almost of equal length.

Rose Window Set in the west
façade, the rose window was
installed in the 19th century,
West Porch The west façade has replacing a Gothic window
an arched 14th-century porch from 1526. The stained glass
decorated with a line of statues depicts Virgin Mary in the centre
dating from between the 14th and the 16 compartments portray
and 17th centuries. the Prophets.
For hotels and restaurants see p269 and p289

186-187_EW_Belgium.indd 186 18/10/16 3:02 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 24th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm