Kortrijk – Church of Our Lady
A hotel stay in Kortrijk is a great opportunity to visit the splendid Church of Our Lady of Kortrijk. The church is considered the oldest building in Kortrijk, built in 1199 and established by Count Baldwin I, the first emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople.
church history
The church has occupied a central place in the history of the County of Flanders, one of the territories that comprises what was then known as the Netherlands. The church was once part of the first Kortkijk Castle, further establishing its central role in Kortkijk’s history. Located in the city center, close to the Damier hotel and within walking distance of any hotel in the center of Kortrijk. After the famous Battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302, the townspeople hung the 500 spurs taken from the fallen Frenchmen from the church roof, only to have them later freed by light-fingered mercenaries. The 500 spurs have been replaced in replica form and can be seen in the church today.
The church was further consolidated into the city’s defensive wall, with the castle and chapel built in 1307 by Lodewijk van Maele in honor of Saint Catherine, however both castle and chapel were destroyed in 1382 following the Battle of Westrozebeke. The church was later rebuilt, but this time in the style that was popular in the 15th century. The castle itself fell into disrepair and no longer exists in its complete form, with only the church, Broeltowers and the Artillery tower.
The interior of the church was destroyed in 1578 by iconoclasts. It was then repaired in the Baroque style. The chapel contains paintings of all the rulers of Flanders, the Court Chapel, and is of particular interest to most tourists who visit the site. The church also features an alabaster statue of Saint Catherine, a late Baroque altar and A. Van Dyck’s famous painting ‘the Raising of the Cross’.
a fascinating visit
There are many reasons why the Church of Our Lady is a place to visit during your Kortrijk hotel stay. Kortrijk’s position on the border between France and Belgium, and the shifting sands of national borders over the centuries, including the fact that the county is part of the Country of Flanders, the Netherlands and Belgium, is reflected in the Church of Our Lady, making it a must-see destination for anyone visiting Kortrijk.
