Huy - Collégiale Notre-Dame 
On the right bank of the Meuse stands the handsome Collégiale Notre-Dame, the most important High Gothic church in Belgium. Work began on the foundations of a Romanesque basilica in 1311 and was completed in 1377. The church has an unusual exterior with two towers flanking the crossing tower (Hemony carillon in the north tower) and the massive west tower, its spire being destroyed by lightning in 1803. The superb rose window "Li Rondia" is on this tower, diameter 9m/29ft.
|
Must-see attractions nearby:
|
Related Attractions
Collégiale Notre-Dame Treasury
Behind the choir screen (1728) is the treasury with four exceptionally splendid shrines beautifully crafted in metalwork of the Meuse region. The most sumptuous are the shrines of St Mengold and St Domitian, both probably the work of Godefroid de Huy from around 1176; the shrine of Our Lady is from about 1260 and the shrine of St Mark with its rich enameling from about 1200. Other treasures include the remains of the Holy Cross, brought back by Peter the Hermit from the first crusade, and a chalice and cross from the grave of Prince Bishop Theoduin of Bavaria.
Collégiale Notre-Dame Interior
The 72m/236ft-long church interior receives its light chiefly through the large rosette and the 20m/65ft-high lancet windows in the apse. The fan ribbed vaulting of the polychromic painted crossing is particularly beautiful. In the right-hand side aisle is the 12th C. entrance to the crypt, its floor covered in tiles decorated with coats-of-arms.
Portail de Bethléem
Especially worth seeing is the tympanum (14th C.) of the Bethlehem portal on the east side of the church, where the entrance to the cloister once was. The splendid sculpture depicts the birth of Christ, the worship of the Kings and Shepherds and the murder of the children in Bethlehem, framed by some lively folk scenes.
