Tournai Cathedral

Lore & Background

The cathedral occupies rising ground near the south bank of the Scheldt, which divides Tournai into two roughly equal parts. Begun in the 12th century on even older foundations, the nave belongs mostly to the first third of the 12th century and prefigures the Early Gothic style. The transept arms, built around the mid-12th century, have apsidal ends borrowed from Rhenish churches and are flanked by square towers reaching 83 meters.

Reader's Guide

Tournai Cathedral is significant for its architectural blend of three design periods: the heavy Romanesque nave, the transitional transept with five bell towers, and the fully Gothic choir built from 1242 to 1255. The choir replaced an earlier Romanesque one, commissioned by Bishop Gautier de Marvis, inspired by Amiens Cathedral. The cathedral also houses a Renaissance rood screen by Cornelis Floris (1573) and stained-glass windows by Arnold of Nijmegen (1507). It was damaged by a severe tornado on 14 August 1999, leading to extensive repairs and archaeological investigation. UNESCO recognized its cultural value in 2000. The cathedral's five bells include two bourdon bells, with the largest, Marie-Gasparine, cast in 1843 and weighing 9 tons. Notable burials include Eleutherius of Tournai, Nicolas Gombert, and Adolf, Duke of Guelders.

Did You Know?

• The cathedral has five bells, including two bourdon bells; the largest, Marie-Gasparine, weighs 9 tons and was cast in 1843.
• The rood screen is a Renaissance work by Flemish sculptor Cornelis Floris, dating from 1573.
• The cathedral was damaged by a severe tornado on 14 August 1999.
• The transept towers reach a height of 83 meters (272 ft).