World Heritage Photos

The Notre-Dame Cathedral (Cathedral of Our Lady) in Tournai was mainly constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries. The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Tournai was built in the Romanesque style, but it also has Gothic style elements. In the beginning of the 12th century, there was an exchange of influence between the architecture of the Ile-the-France, Rhineland and Normandy. The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Tournai is one of the characteristic examples from this period. The five towers at the intersection of the transept, central part of the cathedral, is characteristic of the considerable influence of the Tournai Cathedral on cathedrals in northern France and on the medieval churches in the Flemish part of Belgium. The Romaneque choir was replaced by a Gothic choir in the period 1243-1255 and was inspired by the choir of Amiens Cathedral. The nave and transept houses the largest collection of sculptures and Romanesque wall paintings in Belgium. The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Tournai is a pilgrimage church and is located along the Route of Santiago de Compostela. The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Tournai gained the status as a UNESCO World Heritage in 2000.

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   The five towers of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Tournai dominates the Belgian city of Tournai. In the beginning of the 12th century, preceding the evolution of the Gothic period, there was an exchange of influence between the architecture of the Ile-the-France, Rhineland and Normandy. The Tournai Cathedral is one of the characteristic examples from this period. The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Tournai was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 2000.

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   The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Tournai hidden behind scaffolding for renovation. The cathedral was severely damaged by a tornado in 1999. The damage also revealed underlying structural problems. Especially endangered was the Brunin Tower which had declined by 80 cm. Major restoration works has been carried out since 2006. The restoration works on the cathedral will last about twenty years. Notre-Dame Cathedral in Tournai was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.

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   Notre-Dame Cathedral in Tournai (Cathedral of Our Lady): The stained-glass rose window above the west portal. The Cathedral of Our Lady is adorned with sculptures, several Romanesque wall paintings, a Renaissance pulpit and paintings by Rubens. The treasury of the cathedral houses a collection of religious relics, such as one of the Seven Wonders of Belgium, the gold plated silver reliquary chest of Our Lady, 'La Châsse de Notre-Dame', dating from 1205.

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   Notre-Dame Cathedral in Tournai: The columns of the nave are topped with different decorated capitals. The Tournai Cathedral was largely built in the 12th and 13th centuries. The five towers at the intersection of the transept, the central part of a cathedral, are characteristic for the great influence of the Tournai Cathedral on cathedrals in Northern France, Rhineland in Germany and on a number of medieval churches in the Flemish part of Belgium.

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   Notre-Dame Cathedral in Tournai: The 14th century west portal is adorned with three rows of sculptures, they were later added to the main façade of the Romanesque nave. The cathedral in Tournai was severely damaged by a tornado in 1999, it has been undergoing extensive repairs and archeological investigation ever since. The Notre-Dame Cathedral in Tournai is a pilgrimage church and is located along the Route of Santiago de Compostela.