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Cathedral · Tournai, Hainaut
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Tournai
Cathedral with five towers in a row, a 12th-century Romanesque nave and a 13th-century Gothic choir, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2000, with a Renaissance jubé by Cornelis Floris.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Tournai
The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Tournai is the symbol of the city, known as the 'cité aux cinq clochers', the city of five towers. The nave was built in the 12th century, roughly between 1140 and 1171, in the Romanesque style of the Escalda valley. The transept, from 1199 to 1213, marks the transition to Gothic, and the choir, raised from 1243 to 1255, is already fully Gothic. Within the same building you pass from one style to another.
The five towers rise above the crossing of the transept; the tallest is about 83 metres high. The project originally planned seven, but two were never built. Inside, the cathedral has a Renaissance jubé by Cornelis Floris, dated 1573, early 16th-century stained glass and a painting attributed to Rubens about the souls of purgatory.
The cathedral was listed as a protected monument in 1936 and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2000. In August 1999 a tornado damaged the building and revealed structural problems. In 2006 a major restoration began, stabilizing the Gothic choir, replacing the roofs, cleaning the stonework and restoring the stained glass.
The five towers appear from various points in the centre and dominate the Tournai skyline. The cathedral lies between the beffroi and the Escalda, on the place de l'Évêché, and deserves a full walk around the exterior before visiting the interior to see how the Romanesque nave and the Gothic choir fit together.
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
From 30 minutes to 1 hour, including exterior and interior.
Best time
On weekdays, outside service times. Morning light illuminates the façade of the towers well when viewed from the place de l'Évêché. For the best view of the ensemble, climb the beffroi next door. Check opening times before you go.
How to get there
It is in the centre, about a 10-minute walk from Gare de Tournai, crossing the bridge over the Escalda. The beffroi and the Grand-Place are a few steps away.
Tip
The most complete view of the five towers is from the top of the beffroi, about 100 metres up. Inside, look for the jubé by Cornelis Floris, which separates the Romanesque nave from the Gothic choir. Speak quietly and avoid moving around during services. Check before you go.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Tournai
What to see inside the cathedral?
The Romanesque nave from the 12th century, the Renaissance jubé by Cornelis Floris from 1573, the 13th-century Gothic choir, the early 16th-century stained glass and the painting attributed to Rubens about the souls in purgatory. Check visiting hours before you go.
Why does it have five towers?
The towers were erected above the crossing of the transept at the end of the Romanesque period. The project planned seven, but two never left the drawing board. The tallest is about 83 meters high.
Why does the cathedral mix styles?
Because it was built in stages: the nave is Romanesque, from the 12th century; the transept marks the transition in the early 13th century; and the choir, rebuilt from 1243 onward, is full Gothic.
Where are the towers best seen?
From the top of the Beffroi de Tournai, a few steps away, and from the place de l'Évêché next to the cathedral.