A stay in a Kortrijk hotel 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.
The history of the church
The church has occupied a central place in the history of the County of Flanders, one of the territories that includes 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 French from the roof of the church, only to have them later released by light-fingered mercenaries. The 500 spurs have been replaced in replica form and can be seen today in the church.
The church was further consolidated into the defensive city wall, with the castle and chapel built in 1307 by Lodewijk van Maele in honor of Saint Catherine, however both the 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. Then it was repaired in the Baroque style. The chapel contains paintings of all the rulers of Flanders, the Chapel of the Courts, 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 Erection of the Cross’.
A fascinating visit
There are many reasons why the Church of Our Lady is a place to visit during your stay in a Kortrijk hotel. Kortrijk’s position on the French-Belgian border, and the shifting sands of national borders over the centuries, including the fact that the county is part of Flanders, the Netherlands and Belgium, is reflected in the Church of Our Lady, making it a must-see destination for anyone visiting Kortrijk.
