St Aubin's Cathedral

The Cathedral of Namur under the patronage of Saint- Aubin ( St Alban ) is the bishop's church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Namur in Namur (Belgium ). It is considered a significant example of late Baroque architecture and unique of its kind in Belgium.

History

In 1047, the Collegiate of St. Alban was founded in Namur. After the establishment of the Diocese of Namur in 1559, the Collegiate Church Cathedral was charged. At the beginning of the 18th century it was considered stylistically outdated. The flood of 1740 made ​​them completely dilapidated. Bishop and cathedral chapter decided a new building on the foundations of the abbey church and the adjacent parish church of Saint -Jean- Evangeliste. With the architectural design Gaetano Pisoni was commissioned, who was at that time in Brussels. 1751 the foundation stone was laid. The work, especially on the dome, but they have dragged on and could only be completed in 1767. The solemn consecration took place on 20 September 1772.

Architecture

The oldest part of the Cathedral is the free -standing clock tower in the west, has been preserved by the church. The medieval basement levels were increased in 1648 to an early baroque floor.

The church itself, in the baroque -classical ( Louis XVI ) held style, is a constant turned three-aisled basilica. With its wide transept, close the arms apsidial, and the long chorus and the powerful drum - dome above the crossing it is close to a central building. This effect is reinforced by the post-conciliar altar island in the crossing. The rest of the artistic decoration - pulpit, altars, paintings - are largely original. The two-storey, curved decorative facade on the east side had to be completely replaced after weathering damage in 1900.

Organ

The organ dates back to an instrument that was built in the years 1844-1849 by the organ builder William Korfmacher. Receive is still the imposing organ case. The instrument had to register 50 on three manuals and pedal. Over the years the organ was renovated several times, and extensively remodeled in the years 1964-1968. The instrument has 60 registers, four manuals and pedal today.