Sint-Baafskathedraal, Ghent
View of St. Bavo's Cathedral from the belfry. Photo
Sean Munson.
Baroque pulpit in the nave.
The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb by Jan van Eyck is the main attraction
of St. Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent. Photo courtesy of Web Gallery of Art.
Detail of lower panel. Photo courtesy of Web Gallery of Art.
Ambulatory and side chapels.
Central area of the huge crypt beneath the cathedral.
Frescoes in the crypt.
Fresco of a saint, perhaps Francis of Assisi.
Stairs from the crypt into the cathedral.
The massive Sint-Baafskathedraal (St. Bavo's Cathedral) is the most interesting of several notable churches in Ghent. Built in the 14th and 15th centuries in the Gothic style, the cathedral contains a wealth of religious art.
History
The present St. Bavo's Cathedral stands on the site of a wooden church founded in 942 and dedicated to St. John. This was replaced in 1038 with a Romanesque church, parts of which survive in the crypt.
Construction on a new Gothic church began in the early 14th century and continued for about two hundred years. The new choir was consecrated in 1353, the choir chapels were finished by the early 15th century, the tower was built from 1462 to 1538, and finally construction on the aisles and the nave started in 1533. Holy Roman Emperor Charles V was baptized in the nearly-completed church in 1500.
In 1540, St. Bavo's Abbey was closed by order of Charles V and the abbey's canons moved to St. John's Church, renaming it St. Bavo Church. St. Bavo was a 7th-century local nobleman who gave away his possessions to the poor and became a monk.
In 1561 the diocese of Ghent was founded, changing the status of the church to a cathedral (seat of the bishop of Ghent). During the Iconoclasm of 1566, much of the Gothic decoration was destroyed, but it was later replaced with Renaissance and Baroque art. Finally, on June 7, 1569, the St. Bavo's Cathedral was consecrated.
What to See
The exterior of the cathedral is a mix of Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque architecture, culminating in a great central tower at the west end. The interior is mainly Gothic and contains a wealth of religious art.
The impressive Baroque pulpit is made of white marble and oak in a design reminiscent of Bernini. The Baroque organ (1653) is the largest in the Low Countries. In the chapel behind the high altar is the recently-restored Conversion of St. Bavo (1624) by Rubens.
But the most important work of art in the cathedral is indisputedly the 24-panel altarpiece titled The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, painted by the brothers Hubert and Jan van Eyck. An inscription records it was consecrated for this chapel on May 3, 1432. The beautiful oil painting is an important development in art history, with its increased emphasis on realism in both portraits and landscapes.
The huge Romanesque crypt includes remains from the 12th-century Church of St. John and faded frescoes on many of the arches. The chapels have painted altarpieces and glass cases display a wealth of religious treasures.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Sint-Baafskathedraal; St. Bavo's Cathedral; Ghent Cathedral |
| Type of site: | Cathedral |
| Faith: | Roman Catholic |
| Location: | Sint-Baafsplein, Ghent, Belgium |
| Phone: | 09/225-16-26 |
| Hours: | Cathedral: Apr-Oct: daily 8:30am-6pm Nov-March: daily 8:30am-5pm Mystic Lamb Chapel and Crypt: Apr-Oct Mon-Sat 9:30am-5pm, Sun 1-5pm Nov-Mar Mon-Sat 10:30am-4pm, Sun 2-5pm Closed to tourist visits: Mornings on Sundays and religious holidays, and during services. |
| Cost: | Cathedral: free Mystic Lamb Chapel and Crypt: €2.50 adults (includes audio guide in English), €1.25 children 6-12, free under 6 |
Sources
- Personal visit (November 28, 2007).
- Frommer's Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg
- The Saint Bavo Cathedral - Trabel.com
- St. Bavo's Cathedral - City of Ghent
- The Adoration of the Lamb - Web Gallery of Art
More Information
- St. Bavo's Cathedral – TripAdvisor member reviews and articles
- Saint Bavo - Wikipedia
Location Map
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