5 Towers and Facade of Tournai Cathedral, Belgium

We walked and maneuvered our path through the lanes and Grand Place to reach Tournai Cathedral. Spotting the belfry of Tournai is easy because it is the tallest and dominates the skyline of Tournai. But very soon we could spot the 5 towers of Tournai Cathedral from a distance.

It was cloudy day, thankfully it was not raining. Soon we stumbled on the sight of Tournai Cathedral. Facade of the cathedral with its deep grey exteriors seemed to match the cloud rich skies.

Notre Dame Cathedral of Tournai, Belgium got the UNESCO heritage tag because it is: distinguished by a Romanesque nave of extraordinary dimensions. It displays a wealth of sculpture on its capitals and a transept topped by five towers, all precursors of the Gothic style.

Transept, simply called the cross, is the area of a cruciform church lying at right angles to the principal axis. The bay at which the transept intersects the main body of the church is called the crossing.

Time line of Tournai Cathedral

The cathedral has a turbulent history.

• First church built here was in 761 AD
• In 850 AD this cathedral was replaced by another church
• this 2nd church was burnt down by Viking traders in 881 AD
• Another church was built at the same site; this too got destroyed in fire in 1060.
• A Romanesque cathedral was then built here, which exists even today.
• In 13th century, the church was given a face lift in Gothic architectural patterns, as that was the popular style of architecture in Europe those days.

The 5 square towers that flank the transept arms reach a height of 83 meters (272 ft). The church has a unique combination of both styles of architecture.

Though sober in looks, the cathedral of Tournai is one of the finest in Belgium. The picture below is the undamaged western facade of the cathedral.

5 Towers of Tournai Cathedral

The transept is unique with its 5 towers. Each tower is crowned by a spire, and by its two apses which form an imposing whole.

• The 2 towers to the south are La Treille and Marie towers
• the 2 towers to north are the Brunin and St Jean towers
• Tower at the center is the Pontoise Tower

Together they offer a harmonious facade at each extremity of the transept.

The 4 square towers each have 7 floors. Central Pontoise tower has 6 floors. The architectural styles of the arcatures illustrate the transition from Romanesque to early Gothic style.

Spire of the Brunin Tower

Each of the towers of the transept facade of Tournai Cathedral is covered with a slender 4 sided spire. They were completely rebuilt from 1895 on after the restoration of the stonework of the towers. Work on Brunin Tower started in 1905.

Architect Constant Sonneville restored the spires. He is said to have copied the ancient structure that was still intact on the Marie Tower.

During the disassembly of the spire of the Marie Tower in 1895 they discovered the signature of a well documented roofer Jehan d’ Alencon, May 1571. This led to the hypothesis of repair work on or a rebuilding of at least one of the towers in the 16^th century.

The 19^th century restoration work is very likely to have conducted an identical repair, the proofs being the several bolts date back to contemporary times.

Spire of the Lantern Tower

Lantern Tower is the huge central tower at the crossing stands on a rectangular plan. It allows light into the crossing between the nave and transept.

The rectangular shape is due to the unusual breadth of the arms of the transept built in the second quarter of the 12^th century. Its covering, a spire like octagon surrounded by 4 rectangular corner pyramids, fits in it and stretches its volumes in the axis of the building.

The dimensions of the central spire are impressive considering the period in which it was built. (16.5 x 13.3 x 27 m). Archaeological analysis over the years identified several repairs and restoration works to get its original appearance of the spire.

The studies reveal that the cornice had been built entirely during 19^th century restoration. It was made higher and more projecting than the original in order to accept wider gutter. From drainage point of view this solution was preferable, but visual coherence and vertical surge of the ensemble of the tower and its covering have been diminished when compared to other towers which have retained their free drainage.

What we are seeing today is almost the same silhouette of the 5 towers of Tournai Cathedral that is preserved throughout the centuries.

Towers of Tournai Cathedral

West Facade of Tournai Cathedral

The west facade has an arched 14^th century porch decorated with a line of statues dating from between 14^th and 17^th centuries.

The richness of the exterior carvings on the west porch is mind blowing. There was a depiction of biblical figures, Adam and Eve. These elements are now threatened by the decay of the stone. The carvings especially seem to be at particular risk.

Biblical figures in west porch of Tournai Cathedral

Open Timings of Cathedral

Apr to Oct daily 9:15am till noon and 2pm to 6pm; Nov to Mar 9:15am till noon and 2pm to 5pm.

If by any chance you land at a time when the cathedral is closed a walk around the cathedral would be the best use of time. There are several interesting architectural details to note.

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