EUROPEAN RELOCATION: TOURNAI, BELGIUM

TOURNAI IS A TOWN DUE WEST OF BRUSSELS. IT IS THE OLDEST CITY IN BELGIUM. IT IS KNOWN FOR IT'S TAPESTRIES. WE WENT TO THE TAPESTRY MUSEUM WHICH HAD SOME VERY OLD EXAMPLES BUT ALSO AN INTERESTING COLLECTION OF MODERN STYLE TAPESTRY. THERE IS ALSO A BEAUTIFUL CATHEDRAL, NOTRE DAME DE TOURNAI AND THE OLDEST BELFRY OF BELGIUM.

TWO FESTIVALS TAKE PLACE EVERY YEAR IN TOURNAI. THE FIRST IS THE GREAT PROCESSION, A RELIGIOUS PILGRIMAGE WHICH HAS TAKEN PLACE EVERY YEAR EXCEPT ONE SINCE 1092. THE 2ND IS "LOST MONDAY" OR "PERJURY MONDAY" - IT DATES MORE THAN 700 YEARS AGO WHEN THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN THE TOWN WOULD PREPARE A HUGE FEAST AND ELECT A KING. TODAY THE DINNERS HAVE EXPANDED TO A WIDER GROUP OF RESIDENTS AND THEY OFTEN SERVE A RABBIT DISH.

THE CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY, ALSO KNOWN AS NOTRE DAME OF TOURNAI. CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN THE 12TH CENTURY; IT'S 3 STYLES OF DESIGN AND 5 BELL TOWERS MAKE IT A UNIQUE BUILDING EVEN AMONG CHURCHES. IN AUGUST OF 1999 THE CHURCH WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BY A TORNADO. WORK HAS BEEN ONGOING EVER SINCE AND FROM THE LOOKS OF IT, THERE IS STILL A LOT TO DO.

THE INTERIOR IS VERY PLAIN. NOT SURE IF IT WAS
ALWAYS THIS WAY OR IF THIS WAS A RESULT OF
THE DAMAGE DONE DURING THE TORNADO

AN ALTER REMOVED FOR REPAIRS

PHOTO & HISTORY DISPLAY ABOUT THE CHURCH WHILE IT IS INACCESSIBLE

BEHIND THE PARTITION--RECONSTRUCTION CONTINUES

THE TAPESTRY MUSEUM. NOT VERY BIG BUT A VERY INTERESTING COLLECTION OF CONTEMPORARY AND TRADITIONAL STYLES.

WELL, THIS WASN'T A TAPESTRY BUT IT WAS IN ANOTHER EXHIBIT OF FABRICS.
COULDN'T RESIST TAKING A PHOTO OF SOME DANGEROUS UNDERWEAR!!

THIS CHURCH IS THE CHURCH ST. QUENTIN DE TOURNAI; THE NAVE DATES FROM THE 12TH CENTURY AND THE TOWER WAS BUILT IN THE 13TH CENTURY. IT IS THOUGHT THAT CHURCH WAS ASSOCIATED WITH A CEMETERY THAT WAS ON THE SITE OF THE CURRENT GRAND PLACE AREA.