St. Martin's Church, Kortrijk, Belgium

The site occupied by St. Martin's Church (Sint-Maartenskerk) was already a place of worship in around 650 AD. Later a Romanesque church was built there, which was replaced by a Gothic church in the Middle Ages, built between 1390 and 1466. The Brabantine Gothic stone tower dates from 1439. But in 1862 the tower was struck by lightning and the wooden section was completely destroyed by fire. The spire was fully restored to its former glory over the next few years. The wooden spire houses a carillon with 49 bells. The church is a hall church comprising three aisles. The middle choir, two side choirs and the St. Anna chapel were rebuilt in Neo-Gothic styles after being destroyed by fire in 1862.

The church possesses many hidden treasures. Its showpiece has to be the Triptych of the Holy Spirit by Bernard de Rijckere from 1587: a Pentecostal scene featuring the baptism of Jesus and the creation of Adam. The unique 6,5 metre-high Sacraments Tower from 1585 cannot fail to impress.

Valuable church items including the 16th century chasubles and antependia (hangings for the altar), are classed as Flemish masterpieces. It was decided to turn St. Eloois chapel (1450) into a treasury to preserve these pieces in an optimal manner. The treasury is open to the public at regular hours.

References:

Kortrijk Tourism

Religious sites in Belgium

User Reviews

Dorene Joy Abelleja (3 years ago)
THEY HAVE FREE SUNSCREEN.??? NICE CHURCH ARCHITECTURE YOU CAN GO UP TO THE TOWER FOR OVERLOOKING VIEW BUT YOU NEED TO BOOK A TICKET ONLINE AND IT IS FOR FREE. JUST SCAN THE QR CODE FOR BOOKING. YOU CAN BOOK THE TICKET ITSELF DURING THE TIME OF VISIT NO WAITING TIME NEEDED. WHEN U CAN YOUR QR CODE IN THE SCANER FOR THE ENTRANCE OF THE TOWER YOU MUST PASS OR WALK QUICKLY AND STEP OUT IMMEDIATELY FROM THE MELTAL PALETTE SO THAT IF U HAVE ACCOMPANY THEY CAN STILL PASS THROUGH AND NOT BE STUCK OUTSIDE.IN SHORT, ONCE CODE IS SCAN GO INSIDE IMMEDIATELY. U NEED YOUR CODE FOR GETTING IN AND GETTING. HOPE THIS IS HELPFUL. THANK YOU

Robert McDonnell (4 years ago)
Great architecture

Just Me- Andrei (4 years ago)
Awesome place

Rogier van der Meij (SpartameT) (4 years ago)
It was beautiful.

Elia Viaene (6 years ago)
Looks great but it's pure blasphemy and idolatry.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Zvonimir Hrvoj

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The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.

The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.

St. Martin's Church

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