Mons - Collégiale Sainte-Waudru

The first thing to strike the visitor in the interior, which is 115m/377ft long, 32m/105ft wide and 24m/79ft high, are the pillars of the central nave which reach up into the vault of the roof without any capitals. Near the main door on the left stands the "Car d'Or", a processional carriage built in 1780 for the shrine of St Waltrude. The shrine can be found near the High Altar and was constructed in 1887 of gilded copper. It holds the body of the saint who died in 682 and was sewn up in a skin of a stag. Her head is kept in one of the chapels in a casket. At various points in the church (transept, choir, chapels 11, 14, 20, 24 and 28) are distributed the remains (reliefs and statues) of the choir screen which were made by Jacques Dubroecq of Mons between 1535 and 1548. This is one of the most important of Renaissance works in Belgium with a strong Italian influence. It was destroyed in 1792 by the French. Many other sculptures by the same artist include those in the right aisle (chapel 6) of "Christ on the Cross", an Annunciation group made of alabaster in the transept, in the choir ambulatory (chapel 12) an altar, and eight fine statues in the choir. Of note also are the ancient windows in the choir and transepts (16th C.) and in the nave (17th C.), as well as the considerable number of wall hangings.

In the Treasury can be seen a number of valuable reliquaries including that of St Vincent by the school of Hugo d'Oignies (13th C.), as well as gold and silver work from Mons and district. A 15th C. book of hours has some fine miniature paintings.