Belgium and Luxembourg (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

TOURNAI 181

. Cathédrale
Notre-Dame
The colossal and
magnificent cathe-
dral is enriched with
a wealth of detail,
including tiers of
ornate sculpture
at the entrance
and an elaborately
carved 16th-century
rood screen inside.
. The Belfry
Begun in the 12th century, but dating
mainly from the 14th century, the bel-
fry in Tournai is the oldest in Belgium,
and unusual in that it is free-standing.
Its carillon of 44 bells sings melodies
out over the city centre. The belfry’s
257 steps take visitors to the top,
where a parapet offers excellent views.

The River Scheldt

Known here as the Escaut, the

river gave Tournai vital,

navigable access to the sea,

making it a trading hub

in the Middle Ages.

Cathédrale Notre-Dame’s treasury is

one of the most precious col lec tions of

church treasures in Belgium. It includes

the reliquary shrine of St Eleutherius,

com pleted in 1247, which is paraded

in the Grande Procession festival.

VISITORS’ CHECKLIST

89 km (55 miles) SW of Brussels.

Road Map B3. * 68,000.

£ @ n Vieux Marché aux

Poteries 14; (069) 222045.

_ Grande Procession (Sep).

http://www.tournai.be Église St-

Quentin Grand Place. # daily.

Église St-Jacques Rue du

Palais St-Jacques. # daily.

Musée de la Tapisserie Place

Reine Astrid. Tel (069) 842073.

# Wed–Mon. &

The Musée de la Tapisserie
celebrates Tournai’s tradition
of tapestry weaving.

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