Tournai, a world heritage listed gem

There are not many towns in the world that have World Heritage status. Tournai is a town with two World Heritage listed sites and before this week, it is a town that we had never heard of.

Tournai is in southern Belgium, not far from the French border and not far from the city of Lille. Tournai is Belgium’s oldest town, with origins dating back more than 2000 years. It is a city of art; beautiful facades and wide picturesque streets.

The World Heritage listed cathedral (Notre Dame) with its Gothic and Romanesque style is unique as it has five bell towers. The cathedral, in its current architecture began around 1140. Archaeological investigations show elements of previous constructions, also believed to be religious dating back to the Gallo-Roman period of -5000 to 406.

The other World Heritage listed building is the Belfry which was built in 1188 and signified the charter of municipal liberties ie King Philippe August of France granted the bourgeois of the town rights, which he took from the clergy. The belfry is 72m high with 257 steps and has 55 bells.

Over the River Scheldt is a mediaeval bridge, called the Pont des Trous. The enormous bars of this former water gate from the second surrounding wall prevented access to the city via the river.

Tournai is the only Belgian town that was ruled by the English (1513-1518). In 1513, King Henry VIII had a citadel built on the right bank of the river. The tower is all that is left.

The town was once the home to 37+ guildhalls and the guild flags are on display in the main street.

While unfamiliar with Tournai, we perhaps should have known about it, having been the first capital of what would become France. From the 16^th century onwards, the town has been English, French (on several occasions), Spanish, Austrian and Dutch. It was also German occupied in WWII.

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