Ghent Cathedral of St Bavon, Belgium - Sint-Baafs Cathedral Church

Church

On the eastern side of Sint-Baafsplein stands Sint-Baafskathedraal (Cathedral of St Bavon), a regal building of brick and granite with a Romanesque catacomb of its ancestor, Sint-Jans church. Charles V gave the church its present name after he shattered the old Sint-Baafsabdij to build a stronghold. The High Gothic cathedral chorus is 13/14th C., the late Gothic tower and the foremost nave are 15/16th C., whereas the transept and the nave were only complete in 1539-1559. The tower, which lost its roof in a fire in 1602, has a carillon and there is a good vista from its podium.