Brazil
Argentina
Chile
Colombia
Peru
Uruguay
Germany
Spain
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Ireland
Italy
Portugal
the United Kingdom
Switzerland
Church · Mons, Hainaut
Collégiale Sainte-Waudru
Gothic church from the 15th to the 17th centuries, dedicated to Mons' patron saint. It houses the alabaster sculptures by Jacques Du Brœucq, the relics of Saint Waudru and the Car d'Or, the gilded carriage used in the Doudou procession.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Collégiale Sainte-Waudru
The Collégiale Sainte-Waudru was built by the canonesses of the chapter of Saint Waudru, a community of noble women who ruled Mons' life for centuries. Construction began with the choir in 1450 and was completed with the nave in 1621, in a Brabantine Gothic style. The canonesses planned a 190-metre tower and laid the first stones in 1549, but it was never finished.
The interior is tall and bright, with 16th-century stained glass. In the choir and transept are the alabaster statues and low-reliefs by Jacques Du Brœucq, a sculptor born in Mons at the start of the 16th century and one of the leading figures of the Renaissance in the Low Countries. The relics of Saint Waudru, the city's 7th-century founder, are kept in a gilded reliquary above the altar.
The church houses the Car d'Or, a carved and gilded wooden carriage from 1780–1781 in the Louis XVI style. On the Doudou Sunday it carries the reliquary through the town in a procession stemming from a vow made during the plague of 1349. At the end of the route, the carriage climbs the Rampe Sainte-Waudru in one go, pushed by the crowd; tradition holds that stopping there brings misfortune to the town.
The church treasury, with goldsmithing and reliquaries, is displayed separately in the Site & Musée Lefrancq next door.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
30 minutes to 1 hour for the church; an additional half hour for the treasury.
Best time
The church is open every day. The choir is closed to visitors during Masses, so prefer weekdays outside service times. On sunny days the stained-glass lighting is most beautiful in the early afternoon. On Doudou Sunday, between late May and mid-June, the church is the starting point of the procession.
How to get there
It is located on the place du Chapitre, a 5-minute walk from the Grand-Place and about 10 minutes from Gare de Mons, uphill through the town centre or via the Rampe Sainte-Waudru.
Tip
Look for the Car d'Or, displayed inside the church outside the festival period. Combine the visit with the Beffroi, just above, via the steps of the parc du Château. Speak quietly and avoid walking through the choir during Masses.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Collégiale Sainte-Waudru
Who was Saint Waudru?
A noblewoman from the 7th century who founded a monastery on the hill where the city began. She is the patron saint of Mons, and her relics are carried in procession on the Sunday of the Doudou.
What is the Car d'Or?
It's the golden carriage from 1780 and 1781 that carries the reliquary of Saint Waudru in the Doudou procession. At the end of the route, it goes up the Rampe Sainte-Waudru in one go, pushed by the crowd.
Does the church charge an entrance fee?
Entering the church does not require a ticket. The treasury, displayed separately, requires a paid visit. Check before you go.
Who was Jacques Du Brœucq?
A sculptor and architect born in Mons in the early 16th century. His alabaster sculptures in the choir and transept came from an old choir screen (jubé) of the church.