Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Tournai

A stunning Cathedral, serving both as the House of God that it should be but also as a site of heritage for all to enjoy and appreciate. With numerous side chapels and information signs. It is accessible for all throughout. Symbolic of what was great about Christendom, beautiful gothic architecture, captivating art and all to the glory of God.

Visited from Brussels by car, very easy to reach. City centre parking was full, so I recommend parking just outside and walking in. The cathedral itself is stunning and well worth the trip. We came to Tournai just to see this UNESCO site, and it did not disappoint. Highly recommended and it’s free to visit!

The five towers of Tournai Cathedral appear like a prickly crown from a distance over the skyline of the city. From closer by, the contrast between the relatively sober and much older Romanesque halve, and the intricate and grander gothic half stand out immediately. Both architectural elements explain why this cathedral has become a UNESCO world heritage site, which, moreover, remains free to visit.

It was in the process of renovation so part of the church was open to the public. It is worth a visit because the old part of the church goes back to the 5th century.

Most of the Quire was closed due to restoration, But we heard an amazing Organ voluntary and was given basically put own personal tour around the ground floor of the cathedral, it was amazing.

Beautiful and underrated cathedral. Really short walk from the center square of the city, with a panoramic, bird's-eye view from the nearby Belfry. No large crowds of tourists, just emptiness and peace. The interior is also always open to enter and respectfully admire, and is quite beautiful.

Lovely Sunday service on July 21, followed by a celebration of Belgian Independence Day. Very friendly and welcoming to the services. Beautiful historic cathedral, highest recommendation ❤️

In the shrine (4 euros), you will see relics containing teeth and bones of saints, a silver chest, silverware and carpets imported from Arras in 1402. Tournai was a carpet centre in the 15th century and has the only place in Belgium where you can still order these traditional carpets. The Cathedral stands out because of its 5 towers.

Dominating the centre of Tournai, the Cathedral is the largest in Belgium, and a UNESCO World Heritage Ssite by virtue of its architecture, treasures and its history. Built on the site of an earlier Christian sanctuary, the nave and transepts date from the middle of the 12th century, and are classics of romanesque architecture. The crossing has a squat central bell-tower, flanked on each corner by a further four towers with pyramidal caps, each reaching 83m. This forms the most distinctive feature of the cathedral, and gives the appearance of a 'forest' of towers at its centre. Another distinctive feature is the rounded apsidal transepts. The choir was rebuilt in a dramatic gothic style and on a grand scale in the mid 13th century, aping that of nearby Amiens. After the dramatic exterior, the interior is currently something of a disappointment: the nave has been plastered in a plain style (and painted a vile pale pink) which conceals much of its character, and the aisles are currently obscured by renovation works. At the crossing is the splendid classical rood-screen, designed and built in 1672 by Cornelis Devriendt. Beyond that, the choir is currently off-limits to visitors and entirely filled with scaffolding for renovation works, which are scheduled to take several years longer. (Once fully open, this will be a five-star attraction). But the other glory of Tournai is still accessible, and that is its Treasury. Tournai has one of the most stunning collections of mediaeval church silver in the world, including the incredible reliquary shrine made by Nicholas de Verdun in 1205. Nearly a metre long, and in the shape of a chapel, it is heavily decorated in gold, silver and gilt. Other treasures include an 8th century Byzantine cross, and clothing belonging to St Thomas a Becket from Canterbury. Unsuprisingly, photographs are not allowed, and access to the Treasury is through a huge reinforced door...