Tournai Cathedral

The Notre Dame de Tournai Cathedral (German Our Lady Tournai ) is a cathedral consecrated to the Virgin Mary in the Belgian city of Tournai and the seat of the diocese of the same name. It is one of the most beautiful historic monuments in Western Europe.

General

Distinctive Features of the building are the exceptionally large Romanesque nave, transepts in a rounded apse form with the over -built five towers ( a central crossing tower and four corner towers as bell towers) and to contrasting, built in early Gothic style, choir. The overall effect gives the cathedral the delightful and interesting sight, which is why it was declared in 2000 a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History

With the construction of the church began in 1110, after the mid-9th century a fire destroyed the previously standing at this point Episkopatensemble. In the period to 1191 are formed as impressive masterpieces of Romanesque architecture nave, side aisles, the five towers and the choir. The nave was covered originally flat, the crest vault was built until later. The Romanesque chancel was pulled down in the 13th century and again because Bishop Gautier de Marvis ( 1219-1252 ) planned to complete construction of the Gothic cathedral. With the work on the choir was demolished in 1242 started and was completed 1255th Of the plans to a complete new distance was then taken to 1325 and emerged only two side chapels in Gothic style. The rood screen is a work of the Flemish Renaissance sculptor and architect Cornelis Floris II.

Constructional data

  • Height of the towers: 83 m
  • Height of the nave: 26 m
  • Length of the nave: 48 m
  • Width of the nave: 20 m
  • Height of the choir: 58 m
  • Width of the choir: 36 m
  • Height of the transept: 48 meters
  • Length of the transept: 66.5 m
  • Width of the transept: 14 meters
  • Length of the whole Church: 134 m

Gallery

Reconstruction with original Romanesque choir (front) and the non -built towers in the west facade (rear)

Ground plan

Rose window in the west facade from the inside, before organ

Art theft

When an armed attack on the Cathedral on 19 February 2008 a total of 13 artifacts were stolen. It involves eight chalices, two bishop rings and three crosses. One of these crosses as a relic contains a supposed splinter from the cross of Jesus, comes from Byzantium and was located since 1205 in the cathedral. The cross is considered because of its notoriety as unsaleable. The total value of prey is estimated at 40 million euros.

Romanesque art Steeple Gothic art Architectural style Béguinage Grand Place Spiennes Victor Horta Plantin-Moretus-Museum Stoclet Palace Blegny
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