The Tournai Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Our Lady, is in Tournai, Belgium. In the 6th century, the Diocese of Tournai had its operations from this place. Mainly constructed using a local blue-gray stone, this cathedral almost divides the city into 2 parts.
Because the construction was during the 12th century, the style combines 3 different eras. In 1999, the cathedral was severely damaged by a tornado. Repair work took at least 5-6 years, with the cathedral being opened to the public after 2006.
Tournai Cathedral – A Fame
Renaissance-era stained glass windows dominate this Cathedral. The Cathedral remains one of the biggest tourist attractions with a Renaissance instinct. The building gained the status of a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000. The Cathedral boasts 5 bell towers. Each bell tower has an apsidal end, that is speculated to have got inspiration from Rhenish churches.
In 1999, this Cathedral was severely damaged by a tornado. Further investigations revealed that the Cathedral has undergone severe structural damage over the years. Multiple restoration projects ensured that the Cathedral stood back in all its might after a long gap.
Stained windows at the Cathedral
The Cathedral boasts of the ‘Rose Window’. This signifies a special type of circular window that is mostly used in Gothic churches. The windows have partitions that are made using stone mullions and tracery. These windows have a very high complex design, mostly in the form of a wheel.
Most Cathedrals have a slight modification to the original rose windows. This is because the original art form was too hard to recreate. So these windows transitioned over the ages. These changes mostly depended on the local availability of resources and the skill set of the artists.
The Tournai Cathedral has windows Romanesque style and not the complete Gothic look. This is the base for most of the Cathedrals in the European region in and near Belgium.